William Jefferson Clinton affectionately called Bill Clinton once said in a campaign stop that " If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Well I will retort that if it is broke fix it. At least that's what commonsense dictates. Gambian tourism has suffered significantly over the years and these setbacks are as a result of self inflicted factors such as over taxation and poor regulation of a sector borne out of ignorance.
Tourism is neither the SeneGambia strip nor the sandy beaches of our coastline. Tourism is all about the people, their foods, their cultures, their music and artifacts. This must be our product offering and value proposition. Over the years, the Gambian market has been attracting winter birds with little or no additional disposable income to spur growth of the sector spending in tourist related activities (craft markets, restaurants etc.). Yet still we are focusing our energies on this cluster of tourists whose incremental value to the overall economy is limited. To add insult to injury we have allowed dominant market players to vertically integrate in the market by owning interest in hotels and ground operations to add to their existing tour operation business. This phenomenon pushes them to provide their hotels with guests before other hotels can have access to the tourist. Case in point Gambia Experience and Novotel.
Tour must benefit Gsmbians and the Gambian economy but to date most of the inputs of the hotel industry are imported including juices, milk, meat and common vegetables. There is no synergy or cross sectoral linkages between Agriculture and Tourism. Let us stop fooling ourselves because the benefits of tourism haven't filtered down to make a difference for the masses.
Having stated the above, the Gambia now needs a critical rethink per the direction our tourism must take. For starters, the Gambian diaspora are significantly contributing to the sector for they spend hefty sums in the months of December and January as they return home on their annual pilgrimage. Products must be designed to cater for these people. Air access to the Gambia must be promoted to reduce our dependency on charter arrangements tour operators. Our culture must be at the epicenter of our tourism drive hence the need for festivals to rival the likes of #WOODSTOCK etc.
Finally, the Government of the Gambia need to recruit tourism professionals with a business outlook to manage and regulate the sector. This sector is not a social experiment to allow novices to learn on the job at the expense of investors. God bless Gambia and her diverse peoples but the time has come for a Frank and honest discourse on the issue of Tourism.
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
THE COMING OF AGE OF THE NEW GAMBIAN ECONOMY
The Gambian economy has gone through significant transformation over the years. In the early 1970s, the Gambia was an agrarian economy with groundnut and cotton being the major crops. In the late 70s and 80s, tourism got a boost. Hotels were major tax payers and employers.
The late 90s and early 2000 witnessed an unprecedented growth of the financial sector (banking and related services) and petroleum marketing. They were the foremost payers of taxes to the State.
The “Digital Revolution” of the early 2000s gave rise to new business models that relied heavily on technology for its delivery. Telecommunication was no stronger to this emerging trend. In the initial rush, GAMTEL, a state-owned enterprise became a dominant corporate in The Gambia both in terms of its net worth and tax obligations to the State. By 2007, the economic landscape of The Gambia went through significant transformation as it relates to total taxes collected and the shift in dominance by the telecommunication sector was cast in stone. The establishment of GAMCEL, AFRICELL, COMIUM and QCELL changed the market dynamics and by default the economic landscape of the Gambia. Telcos as we refer to companies in the telecommunication sector changed the behavioural pattern of Gambians and consequently the fortunes of the Gambia Revenue Authority and by extension the Social Security and Housing Corporation. The Telco phenomenon comes with a lot of controversies mostly centering around size and supremacy.
AFRICELL claimed to be the biggest operator in The Gambia both in terms of subscriber base revenue. Equally, the latest entrant in the market QCELL boast of its market dominance and size. Well the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the two most reliable barometers of their claims can be verified through their dues paid to the public regulator (PURA) or their tax obligations to Gambia Revenue Authority.
Based on 2018 tax receipts, AFRICELL is by far the biggest corporate in The Gambia and the number one amongst the out of the 50 biggest tax payers in the nation. AFRICELL ranked first, QCELL ranked second, Comium ranked forth, GAMCEL ranked seventh and GAMTEL ranked nineteenth. The ranking are a cumulative aggregate of their value added taxes, corporate income taxes, employee taxes, withholding and other taxes. Zeroing into the Telco sector, it is clearly evident that AFRICELL is way bigger than all the other telecommunication companies combined.
QCELL, Comium, GAMCEL and GAMTEL paid a total of 473,509,065 million Dalasis whilst AFRICELL paid 703,788,281 million Dalasis in 2018. This explicitly imply that AFRICELL by all standards is bigger than any Telco in The Gambia and the receipts of all other Telcos combined is still less than their total payables.
Company Total in Million Dalasis
AFRICELL 703,788,281
QCELL 229,009,211
COMIUM 116,528,040
GAMCEL 95,901,620
GAMTEL 32,070,194
The Gambian economy has shown clear signs of a shift to a more service driven economy led by the telecommunication companies. The issue of the biggest Telco must now be put to rest as the verdict has been issued by the tax authority. The rest is for the regulator to bring to order the deceptive marketing campaign that is prevalent in our news outlets and outdoor advertising materials on our highways. Telecommunications will undoubtedly continue to be be the pace setter of economic growth as the next frontier will be fought in the FINTECH area.
Tuesday, 3 September 2019
The Inspector General Versus Killa Ace & Co. A Clear Abuse Of Judicial Process
Abuse of process refers to the improper use of a civil or criminal legal procedure for an unintended, malicious, or perverse reason. It is the malicious and deliberate misuse of regularly issued civil or criminal court process that is not justified by the underlying legal action.
The above definition is fitting for what happened today at the Kanifing Magistrate Court in the case IGP versus Ali Baba Ace Cham & Co. The IGP knew too well that the charges proffered on the defendants were over and beyond what the magistrate can legally handle based on legal jurisdiction.
The mere fact of presenting the defendants before a magistrate only to be ping ponge to the high court demonstrates a clear misuse of process by the Office of the Inspector General. This deliberate ploy goes against the grain of fair play and Justice. Equally, the magistrate had the discretion to grant bail or remand the accused. She deliberately recuses herself from the process. Justice must be seen to blind and impartial but the actions of the IGP in my view symbolizes #Over_Zealous_Prosecution. This tactic was pervasive during the Jsmmeh era and must not be condoned. Those that call for security reforms and system change are not speaking in vacuum. Issues such as this case is a classic example.
The case moving from the Police to the Office of the Attorney General may take another few weeks for the prosecutor to prepare his summation and brief whilst the defendants languish in the judicial system. This is not acceptable and we must collectively say NO to such ABUSE OF PROCESS. Atleast not in my name as a Gambian. The right to free trial must be accorded to all within a reasonable time frame.
Prison is for convicted felons and remand is temporal holding pending bail and or conviction. Cutting the dreadlocks of Ali Cham is a clear violation of his rights. Our penal system must respect the rights of the accused. Killa Ace is not STATE PROPERTY for the warders to do as they choose. We voted in a government to get rid of bad behavior and we the citizens will not condone bad behavior any longer. The government either fix the problem or we fix it like we did December 1st 2016. God bless the Gambia and all her diverse peoples. Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere
The above definition is fitting for what happened today at the Kanifing Magistrate Court in the case IGP versus Ali Baba Ace Cham & Co. The IGP knew too well that the charges proffered on the defendants were over and beyond what the magistrate can legally handle based on legal jurisdiction.
The mere fact of presenting the defendants before a magistrate only to be ping ponge to the high court demonstrates a clear misuse of process by the Office of the Inspector General. This deliberate ploy goes against the grain of fair play and Justice. Equally, the magistrate had the discretion to grant bail or remand the accused. She deliberately recuses herself from the process. Justice must be seen to blind and impartial but the actions of the IGP in my view symbolizes #Over_Zealous_Prosecution. This tactic was pervasive during the Jsmmeh era and must not be condoned. Those that call for security reforms and system change are not speaking in vacuum. Issues such as this case is a classic example.
The case moving from the Police to the Office of the Attorney General may take another few weeks for the prosecutor to prepare his summation and brief whilst the defendants languish in the judicial system. This is not acceptable and we must collectively say NO to such ABUSE OF PROCESS. Atleast not in my name as a Gambian. The right to free trial must be accorded to all within a reasonable time frame.
Prison is for convicted felons and remand is temporal holding pending bail and or conviction. Cutting the dreadlocks of Ali Cham is a clear violation of his rights. Our penal system must respect the rights of the accused. Killa Ace is not STATE PROPERTY for the warders to do as they choose. We voted in a government to get rid of bad behavior and we the citizens will not condone bad behavior any longer. The government either fix the problem or we fix it like we did December 1st 2016. God bless the Gambia and all her diverse peoples. Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere
Monday, 2 September 2019
JAMMEH A TRUE DEFINITION OF A POLITICAL DISRUPTOR
Political Disruptor in lay man's sense is the change of the political narrative with a deliberate intent to change social order and harmony. To many Jammeh was an ordinary soldier with humble intellectual acumen. What Jammeh lacked in academic accomplishments he over compensated it with guts and craftsmanship albeit destructive.
The death of an instrumental pillar in the formation of our nation state in the person of David Kwesi Jawara later known as Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara has raised thought provoking questions about the comparison of our two post independence leaders ( Jawara/Jammeh). It will be a disservice to compare the two for their points of departure are varied hence the dichotomy between Jawara and the enigmatic Jammeh whose poor social orientation led to his disruptive political ideology/message.
Sir Dawda attempted to unify the nation by deliberately changing the Protectorate Peoples Party to Peoples Progressive Party. This was a deliberate attempt by the young statesman Dawda Jawara to bring social cohesion and harmony at a time the country needed such. On the contrary, the disruptive Jammeh came up with a sociopolitical narrative that was symbolic of (us versus them). This political philosophy energized a good portion of the Gambian polity whose economic and social fortunes where dismal to say the least. To reinforce the disruptive agenda, he killed the civic education that will make the citizenry galvanize towards man's brotherhood as ascribed by our national anthem.
The University of the Gambia being a supposed center of academic excellence must design a class to deconstruct the mythical and samaritan nature associated with the bandit Jammeh. Jammeh deliberately cultivated a Gambian particularly among the youth folk who believed in cultism and hero worship. Nothing can be wrong with his actions and deliberate deceptive practices in their eyes. Many amongst the Jammehyites will say he is the father of modern Gambia with regards to education, infrastructure and economic development at large. Well I respectfully disagree with such a proposition because the inefficient cost associated with such a development both financially and human toll is not worth the outcomes his disciples preach. He left us with a divisive nation that lacks social cohesion and sense of nationhood. The disruptive nature of his political ideology is wreaking havoc in our attempt to go through a transitional program because the country lacks a national #BUY_IN both at the political level and the governed.
The leadership of the country must understand that that the word #Transition is a temporal arrangement that must usher in normalcy after the execution of the set deliverables (New Constitution, strengthening public institutions, reparations etc.). Therefore, the issue of incumbency is not only a #Faux_Pas but a non starter in transitional governments. Having stated the above, the sitting President must reconsider his stance of a second successive term if the transition means something to him. He can return to active politics post 2021 and that will be the most honorable contribution he would have contributed towards the normalization of our budding democracy and nation state we want to rebuild. President Madabio of Sierra Leone did that in the interest of his nation. Equally, the population in the interest of unity of purpose and the creation of National ideals that will cement our #GAMBIANNESS must look beyond the (us and them) syndrome that has been reinforced by Jammeh. Yes Gambia president Jawara had a poor social contract that needs fixing but not at the expense of our national unity.
To deconstruct the political legacy/ideology introduced by Jammeh, the government must have a deliberate policy to fix the political miseducation of the Gambian. We are a nation of diverse peoples with a unity of purpose to foster peace and man's brotherhood. Sait Matty Jaw and the political wizardry at our halls of academia must assist government to socially deconstruct Jammehism if we want a socially cohesive Gambia going forward. Such a discourse must be devoid of emotional sentiments and socioethnic narratives. Jammeh was never good for Gambia and that must first and foremost be accepted by all. Equally it's never too late for him to seek forgiveness to the citizenry because to err is human and his tirades and social disobedience and disregard to our national interests was due to a poor social contract that embodied his upbringing. No love lost for the young soldier who politically disrupted a nation by skewing our trajectory to prosperity and national cohesion. God bless the Gambia and all her diverse peoples. One Gambia, One People, one destiny. Out of many, we are one under God for the Gambia is our homeland and her resurrection must be our utmost priority
#NYANG_NJIE
The death of an instrumental pillar in the formation of our nation state in the person of David Kwesi Jawara later known as Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara has raised thought provoking questions about the comparison of our two post independence leaders ( Jawara/Jammeh). It will be a disservice to compare the two for their points of departure are varied hence the dichotomy between Jawara and the enigmatic Jammeh whose poor social orientation led to his disruptive political ideology/message.
Sir Dawda attempted to unify the nation by deliberately changing the Protectorate Peoples Party to Peoples Progressive Party. This was a deliberate attempt by the young statesman Dawda Jawara to bring social cohesion and harmony at a time the country needed such. On the contrary, the disruptive Jammeh came up with a sociopolitical narrative that was symbolic of (us versus them). This political philosophy energized a good portion of the Gambian polity whose economic and social fortunes where dismal to say the least. To reinforce the disruptive agenda, he killed the civic education that will make the citizenry galvanize towards man's brotherhood as ascribed by our national anthem.
The University of the Gambia being a supposed center of academic excellence must design a class to deconstruct the mythical and samaritan nature associated with the bandit Jammeh. Jammeh deliberately cultivated a Gambian particularly among the youth folk who believed in cultism and hero worship. Nothing can be wrong with his actions and deliberate deceptive practices in their eyes. Many amongst the Jammehyites will say he is the father of modern Gambia with regards to education, infrastructure and economic development at large. Well I respectfully disagree with such a proposition because the inefficient cost associated with such a development both financially and human toll is not worth the outcomes his disciples preach. He left us with a divisive nation that lacks social cohesion and sense of nationhood. The disruptive nature of his political ideology is wreaking havoc in our attempt to go through a transitional program because the country lacks a national #BUY_IN both at the political level and the governed.
The leadership of the country must understand that that the word #Transition is a temporal arrangement that must usher in normalcy after the execution of the set deliverables (New Constitution, strengthening public institutions, reparations etc.). Therefore, the issue of incumbency is not only a #Faux_Pas but a non starter in transitional governments. Having stated the above, the sitting President must reconsider his stance of a second successive term if the transition means something to him. He can return to active politics post 2021 and that will be the most honorable contribution he would have contributed towards the normalization of our budding democracy and nation state we want to rebuild. President Madabio of Sierra Leone did that in the interest of his nation. Equally, the population in the interest of unity of purpose and the creation of National ideals that will cement our #GAMBIANNESS must look beyond the (us and them) syndrome that has been reinforced by Jammeh. Yes Gambia president Jawara had a poor social contract that needs fixing but not at the expense of our national unity.
To deconstruct the political legacy/ideology introduced by Jammeh, the government must have a deliberate policy to fix the political miseducation of the Gambian. We are a nation of diverse peoples with a unity of purpose to foster peace and man's brotherhood. Sait Matty Jaw and the political wizardry at our halls of academia must assist government to socially deconstruct Jammehism if we want a socially cohesive Gambia going forward. Such a discourse must be devoid of emotional sentiments and socioethnic narratives. Jammeh was never good for Gambia and that must first and foremost be accepted by all. Equally it's never too late for him to seek forgiveness to the citizenry because to err is human and his tirades and social disobedience and disregard to our national interests was due to a poor social contract that embodied his upbringing. No love lost for the young soldier who politically disrupted a nation by skewing our trajectory to prosperity and national cohesion. God bless the Gambia and all her diverse peoples. One Gambia, One People, one destiny. Out of many, we are one under God for the Gambia is our homeland and her resurrection must be our utmost priority
#NYANG_NJIE
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