NOTICE TO VACATE THE POST OF MAYOR OF BANJUL

This post is specifically and intentionally targetted to the current Mayor of Banjul Mr. Abdoulie Bah. I personally do not harbour grudges or ill will against you but you have surely outlived your usefulness if there was any for the people of Banjul. 

Your election and subsequent elevation to the position of the post of Mayor of Banjul was very deliberate and personal to the people of Banjul. We rebelled against the dreadful and terrible Butcher of Kanilai for the treatment meted out against the inhabitants of the capital and their noble son #Pa_Sallah_Jeng. You ran on an independent ticket and we gladly voted for you without hesitation. To whom much is given, much is expected. We expected a lot from you and prominent amongst those expectations were sincerity and good faith. Your decision to jump ship and join the Jammeh band wagon was not only disheartening but an utter disregard to the very people who installed you. The time has come for us the bonafide citizens of Banjul to render our verdict on your performance and integrity. Well for your infomation, the verdict is out and we will vigourously render your future candidacy futile and redundant just like you treated the dignifief people of the city that the Butcher marginalised thanks to your help and many like your ilk. I will leave you to patiently peruse through the picture attached herein and ask yourself if you deserve our vote or confidence going forward? 

Your decision to jump ship from the APRC speaks volume about your interest to preserve and nurture your personal interest over the greater good. I will wage a war against your candidacy in the upcoming mayoral elections and I will definitely put my money where my mouth is. Bottom line, I will write your political obituary and the epitaph will read. Here lies a man that was given all by a victimised populace who had hope and confidence in him for their salvation from a brutal tyrant but he chose to entrench the very butcher that tormented the people of Banjul. Adieu mayor and do enjoy what is left of your term as the struggle is for real and rest be assured the days of political opportunism are over in the island city from whence I came. You Mr man can't solve our problems as you lack the nowithall to usher prosperity and transformation in Banjul. Hope to see you in the political turf I affectionately called my home. Banjul dekki nyetti marché yi.

Economic Nationalism A Sine Qua Non For A Prosperous Gambia

My Gambia, my way! This has been my motto and credo since I touched down in the Gambia some 16 odd years ago. Sadly, my way only existed in my worldview and how I choose to live, express my views and construct my reality. My reality is not far fetched, nor is it utopian just that my reality is not mainstream. I am an unapologetic thoroughbred capitalist who believes in excellence, merit and market driven processes. However, if we Gambians want to have Giants of Industries, we must first nurture captains of Industry. The Gambian entrepreneurial class MUST be propped up so that wealth creation and generation will be a precursor to our dream of a developed Gambia.

This brings me to my contentious yet noble idea about Economic Nationalism. This ideology promotes and foster local participation in all spheres of our economy so long as it doesn’t impede on the quality of service being delivered. Economic Nationalism is practiced in most economies but in a very subtle way. Recently, the United States Government in a show of support for American Telecommunications Equipment manufacturers, frustrated the entry of Huaweii Technologies in the US market citing suspicion as a pretext for their actions. http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-20141207-column.html This move by the USA is a clear sign of Economic Nationalism by putting US commercial interest first. I am cognizant of the fact that Gambia is an open economy that should promote foreign direct invest to spur the much needed impetus for economic growth but however, this endeavor must be cautiously approached to implement a balance that will serve two interests simultaneously (the strengthening of our entrepreneurial class and opening up to FDI). The two are not mutually exclusive and with the right policy mix the two objectives can be achieved harmoniously. This administration as a matter of urgent public policy pronouncement MUST initiate immediate local content rules in the awarding of international contracts to foreign companies. Local content rules implore on foreign contractors to engage local suppliers and entrepreneurs in sourcing the inputs for their deliverables. This will enhance the entrepreneurial base and also foster the idea of skills and technological transfer that is needed to move our economy.

I will also take this opportunity to register my concerns and reservations about the purported negotiations with a Belgian outfit called SEMLEX as it relates to issuance of National documents Passport etc). I am of the view that this is not a precision or rocket science that needs ultra-sophisticated competence to produce. Therefore, our government must consider local outfits with the requisite competence to deliver such services and in the absence of such within the local business community, the government can encourage local outfits to partner with international firms to deliver such services. This accords the local outfits the opportunity to boost their skill levels and competence after a while. That is what I consider economic empowerment. New Gambia MUST promote such ideals as it helps in building a strong entrepreneurial class. Economic Nationalism must not be equated to #PROTECTIONISM as it is more of a preferred provider of services rather than the only providers. If this country must develop, the government must nurture the emergence of an entrepreneurial class. A lesson not learned in the past will always be repeated and that’s why we had many false starts with the Likes of Alice Carr, Daddy Jack, Cham & Secka, Musu Kebba Drammeh. This is a shameful past that can be addressed if we put Gambia and Gambians first. The text book definition of an open economy is ideal as it is devoid of the very human trait of self-interest. Therefore, my philosophy of My Gambia, My Way MUST be made a reality by promoting Gambian ideals and interest at all times. If we don’t promote our interest who will promote our interest for us? This blog post is by no means a support for any interest but a mere observation of an anomaly deficient in the Gambian psyche especially our public officials. I remain a humble servant of the land I grew loving and I will promote the espoused ideals that will usher in prosperity to our dearly beloved Gambia

#Gambia

#EconomicNationalism

#PublicPolicy

#GambiaFirst

The Chicken and Egg! Growth or Economic Stability

The chicken and the egg scenario has always intriqued man in his quest for rational thinking. Equally, the economist has for centuries toyed with the idea of the "other hand" yet proudly create a static environment "ceteris peribus" where all things are equal. In real life no two things are equal. #NewGAMBIA is at a demarche heading to a confluence that will put her on a collusion course with growth or doom. The path taken by Gambia at this confluence depends on the economic/development tool kit employed. A fiscal conservative economist would prescribe stability over growth and a neo liberal fiscalist would advocate growth over stability with the view that the calm has to come after the storm.

Either way, New Gambia wants prosperity propelled by economic growth and sustainable macro policies. If wishes were horses all beggars be riding to town. Our generation owe it to subsequent generations of Gambians to tidy up the fiscal mess we created through excessive public borrowing and decadent national lifestyle choices (public celebrations) that left us in the brink. This government must take a critical look at our situation and understand that our domestic debt is an existential threat to the long term macro stability of the state. The way out of our festering debt ailment is for Gambians to collective take responsibility of our predicament and it starts by buying into the sacrifice of bringing the debt down as Gambians. If we all pledge a token sum per person it will give us a stake in the process. Then the monetary authorities in consultation with the fiscal authorities develop  medium term debt instruments to help restructure our debt profile. Then and only then our economic growth will make sense to me. Let us not just think about our generation. It is our responsibility to pass on a Gambia with a clean bill of health to subsequent generations. A sovereign wealth management fund can address such issues. Hello Gambia, lets develop our nation with a medium to long-term strategic vision. For the Gambia I remain ever