From Trendsetting To Fighting For Survival. The Story Of Comium Gambiai .

Comium Gambia burst into the Gambian telecommunication as the third entrant in a market 5hat was not saturated at the time. The incumbent national operator Gambia and African had total control of the market at the time and sim cards fetched a lucrative price in the country. The national penetrative rates had enough room for improvement hence making Comium's entry in the market attractive. Further to the possibility of making inroads in the market, Comium came in with a game changer at the time. It was the first to provide data services through GPRS a 2.5G technology which positioned the company churning subscribers from the 2 existing GSM Companies 

Comium went live with a loud bang and sustained its presence and visibility in the market thereby becoming a household name in Gambia. The presence of the company was felt in the local market especially in rural Gambia particularly in the Fonis and the Upper River Region of the country. 

Telecommunication is a very dynamic industry and advancement in technology rapidly changes the business landscape. 3G technology was introduced in the Gambia and that began the decline of Comium as it has lost its technological superiority and value proposition. Comium moved from a strong and robust company to an ailing company without clear visibility to join the 3G race. 

Equally a company of relevance to a company of obscurity and currently fourth and the least performing amongst all operators, Comium is frantically fighting for its economic survival. The telecommunication regulator PURA now need to make a decisive decision to demand Comium to invest in upgrading its 2.5G network or face cancellation of its license. Well Comium is currently embattled and chances of making a comeback are slim to none considering its financial health and legal woes from its long time vendor/supplier.

The regulator is duty bound to protect the ly of the Comium network in the event the network goes burst. Being a keen observer and player in the industry, I foresee Comium continue to milk its dilapidated investments to its inevitable death. Equally, they will want the Government to pounce on them by attempting to revoke their incense. This will favour Comium as they will want to go into arbitration with the Government of the Gambia thereby giving them respite from creditirs and a possible settlement with the Gambia. 

In a nutshell, Comium is delaying their inevitable death because their subscriber base has dwindled to a point that their total expenditure may most likely be the same as their revenues. Difficult times ahead for this embattled operator but it is oftentimes said that " a business has a right to live and a right to die. The choices they make in the course of doing business determines their viability". Comium made wrong choices and they are now facing the consequences of those poor business decisions.

I hope that the Regulator will step in and do the right thing for the country and subscribers.

https://oltnews.com/huawei-attacks-lebanese-businessman-for-35-million-the961

Muhammed Manjang - The Epitome Of Conscience & Valor

Mr. Muhammed Manjang epitomizes what a conscientious individual is all about. Like him or hate him but his credentials are stellar and colourful. He is the type of Gambian we want to see in public life. Mr. Manjang reminded me of CEO #JACK_WELCH of #GENERAL_ELECTRIC who is a classical depiction of what a corporate disruptor is all about. Muhammed took over a decimated operation with loose controls and cozy interference by the state in terms of the financial operations of the institution. Being a disruptor, Manjang came in with a view of shaking things down. The tremor of disruptive nature shook the core of the institution thereby upsetting the organisational culture. This was met with resistance and resentment because he changed the notion of business as usual.

Gambians are indeed utopian who live in a fools paradise because we want a better Gambia without going through the painstaking motions of change. Well this folly make us to be smart by half hence the static predicament we find ourselves in. The letter authored by Mr. Manjang refusing his appointment by the State to assume office at the Senegalo_Gambian Secretariat is a first from a Gambian. The weakest trait we have as a people is to say no and assess our competence to see if we are fit for purpose for the prescribed assignment. Well Mr. Manjang has set the bar high and I do hope that his actions become a precedent for many to follow. How often have our ministers and senior Government officials bounce back after being fired or relieved of their duties? The only way our system will change is if we change and as Shakespeare would have said "to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man". The insincerity of the Gambian is mind boggling and troubling to say the least.

A New Gambia is premised on a new Gambian. Only way a new Gambian can emerge from the ashes of tyranny and mayhem is to cultivate a dignified Gambian. It is only through dignity that our self worth is preserved. Once again Mr. Manjang demonstrated leadership, dignity and professionalism in humbly bowing out without prejudice to the state. It's a great loss for the interest of the state to have the likes of Manjang out of the public service. Then again, the self centred ego maniacs who abuse their authority and office to serve their personal interest are the clear enemies of the state.

It is suffice to say that Gambians are allergic to good people and we set the bar too low in public life hence the reason we have dim wits and sycophants in our public administration. People whose primary preoccupation is to have free perks such as Pajeros, fuel vouchers and allowances. What a shame to our collective conscience but we have no one to blame but our very selves for we have relegated the affairs of state to people who have no business running our state. The predicament we find ourselves has been clearly depicted by Plato who stated that “One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors". Gambians of good standing need to get up and be counted in our quest to build our dear nation. For far too long, we have outsourced our societal deliverables to others only to be disappointed with their inaction.

The transformative nature of Manjang clearly sets him apart from the rest. The public service is yet to see the last of Manjang and I can vividly see him running the exchequer (Ministry of Finance) some day soon. He doesn't need the public service, the public service needs him. In order to be a public servant, one has to be selfless. Manjang possesses the attributes of a distinguished servant of the people. Those hounding him by abusing  power to settle scores will be dealt with by karma, the law and the polity for their actions will only galvanise our collective resolve to once again regain our country to preserve our dignity and nationhood.

Personally, I thank  Mr. Manjang for his service to his people especially the socially vulnerable pensioners who he diligently and gallantly fought for to preserve their investments and increase their value. Time will not only vindicate him but it will expose the minions and dim wits whose narrowly defined self interest have been put before the interest of the greater good.

Gambia Tourism- Time For A Serious Rethink

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.

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.

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

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

City of Banjul A Missed Opportunity For Economic Rejuvenation

The city of Banjul is probably the worst managed capital city in West Africa. City that has ran aground with derelict and dilapidated public infrastructure. Banjul found itself in this dire situation due to deliberate neglect of the previous government and sheer ineptitude of some office holders in the city's administration. Therefore, Banjul is in need of a new lease on life and this can only come in the form of a stimulus package. Unfortunately, the city is not financially endowed to give out what it doesn't have by way of cash and must find ways to induce would be economic operators to stay and do business within the city limits.

The recent revenue measures taken by the city will further move the city into obscurity and irrelevance because they are neither competitive nor attractive for would be investors to call Banjul home. Attached for the ease of reference and perusal are some tax schedules passed and ready for enforcement by the city. I am of the view that the city is ill advised because they are frustrating the business community from calling Banjul home. No country or municipality can tax their way to prosperity especially a distressed economic zone like Banjul. Then again, commonsense is not so common in public policy formulation circles in the Gambia. We all agree that Banjul is in need of a viable economic impetus to kick start the revival of the city but this initiative must be driven by revenue measures that are non tax oriented. These include parking fees, congestion charge, penalties and other user fee charges. Having to charge professionals and corporates and arm and a leg to do business in a run down city like Banjul shows the lack of foresight and aptitude by the city managers.

I have reiterated in the strongest terms that Banjul needs a comprehensive plan both in terms of public infrastructure blueprint and economic policy for its rebirth. The haphazard and stop go measures will further relegate the city to the boondock of underdevelopment and poverty. I therefore call on the Mayor to have a rethink.

Rehabilitation Or Rebuilding Of Banjul? A Prudent Question That Needs An Honest Answer

I am very pleased with the initiative taken to fix the city of Banjul. I will give the initiators an A grade for their intent. However thsts were I personally deviate with them because I believe that a comprehensive study should have been commissioned by the client (Banjul/Government) as prescribed by an EPC contract and also the supervision of works by a reputable consulting firm. I am cautiously optimistic about the quality of work based on the photos presented. I have vehemently stated that Banjul needs an overhaul starting with a new blueprint but our development strides are always short sighted. God save us and for us who choose to speak up, we are seen as saboteurs and jealous people  I will gladly be called that if I feel like due process and global best practices are not adhered to.

We all agree that Banjul has been neglected for reasons  best known to Jammeh not withstanding, we still have to do the right thing and the best for our beloved city. I have negotiated contracts and sourced funding for public infrastructure works in the past and all am saying without fear, favor or 'll will is that there are international best practice for contract supervision that must be strictly adhered to inorder for the beneficiary (Banjul) to make the most out of this venture. Generally an EPC contract requires a thorough study by a reputable firm, a technical design vetted by the consultant and strict supervision during the execution phase. All these must be in place before one bag of cement is poured on the ground. We are not fools and no one must insult our intelligence. The days of cronyism must be a thing of the past considering where we came from. Am never shy to call a spade a spade irrespective of who feels offended. There are no short cuts to good procedural processes and we either want the best or we are tacitly complicit in short changing Banjul. My grandfather of blessed memory Nyang Njie was fond of saying that " lou bon dou yagaa bem daahgan". We ought to know better cos no where in the world will rules be flouted the way we did in Banjul. I rest my case and time will vindicate me cos we know what's right but mostly opt for what's convenient. I have executed such projects using FIDIC rules of contract. Dodou Jagne #Bammy is a living witness and  can attest to that. Let's be serious about rebuilding Banjul  for once. My utterances and postulations are based on logic and prior experiences so I find it as an escapist route to term the nay sayers as know it all. We all know that the Banjul sewage system has failed and in need of an overhaul not repairs therefore fixing the roads before sorting the sewage may be a double expense in the medium term as we will get to fix the sewage sooner or later and the roads will be excavated to do so. Our differences in opinion must not be misconstrued for hatred or jealousy. We are citizens and vested parties of Banjul and we are just weighing in per the dictates of the market place of ideas so let no one take offence.. Banjul has been perennially flooding  for crying out loud and these incessant floods are due not only to clogged drainage but change in levels due to the new roads constructed over the years. A drain must have a capacity (volume of water in cubic meters to flush within a specified time) and this is calculated by depth and gradient of the drains. How can a contractor execute such without a thorough study. So let's be sincere with our actions and not short change the tax payers who will eventually foot the bill.

Three or Five years. The Gambian Dilemma

Religion is a contract between man and God. Conscience is a contract between man and himself. Politics is a contract between the governed and their proxies (politicians). The terms and conditions of our political contracts are guided by political manifestos (statement of intent). These statements  of intent must always be in conformity with our national document (constitution).

The brouhaha about 3 and 5 years is slowly becoming an insult to the Gambian polity. When the parties and non political interlucutor met to map out a strategy to boot the brutal brute and Butcher of Kanilai they were disingenuous about their tactical and strategic positions. They in a nut shell sold us an agenda that was not politically feasible nor constitutionally congruent with our electoral cycle. Yes a promise is a comfort to a fool and these political operatives took Gambians for a ride by proffering solutions that was neither tenable nor logical.

I have since the inception of this coalition stated without reservation that what brought these politicians together was smaller than what can keep them together for the duration of the coalition period. Jammeh was the only common denominator they shared. The tag alongs or shall I say the free riders (political operatives without equity/capital) gained significantly at the expense of those that invested with blood and sweat. The diversity of the political agendas and motives exhibited the cracks on this alliance I affectionately dubbed the "Unholy Alluance". Hence the reason it withered and fizzled.

On the issue of 3 and 5 years, we Gambians must be realistic for two good reasons;
1. Our constitution supersedes any arrangement entered by the political class and the sanctity of our constitution must not only be protected but preserved.

2. The Gambia hasn't conducted a voter registration drive in years. This implies that if the 3 year period were to be respected, we can't have an election in the shortest possible time and if we are to conduct a voter registration drive it will take 9 to 16 months and that will be be close to the 5 years we are bickering about.

Gambians must be vigilant going forward and be mindful that in life no one gets what they deserve but what they negotiate. God bless the Gambia and all her diverse peoples.

Political Dynamics In The Gambia

if the people want to be hoodwinked by the political class they will but what's happening in our political space the past few days is quite normal if one is a student of politics. Political wishes and political realities diverge from where they are conceived. I for one believe that Gambian political evolution is going through a natural selection process (survival of the fittest). The first phase has completed successfully and we were all happy of the outcome. That phase dealt with the convergence of political foes and nemesis  to dislodge a tyrant (Despot Jammeh). The Second phase is the political storm we witnessed during the parliamentary elections and this phase was for the imposition of power and dominion within the political machinery and this is almost at the tail spin and the National Assembly elections was the final arbiter of this phase. The third and final phase will be that of power consolidation. This phase will be the calm after the storm and hopefully that's when the legislative and political agenda will be fast tracked. If we understand these principles then we will understand fully well why Halifa had his preferred stance and Darboe had his entrenched position. Remember politics is a game of vested interest and in as much as these people talk the beautiful rhetoric of galvanizing the interest of the greater good, they have a vested interest they want to secure. Halifa's choice of a coalition led initiative for the National Assembly is premised on diluting the perceived relevance of the big boy (UDP) by making all parties as equals among men. On the contrary, The UDP want  a tactical alliance so as to display their might by differentiating the boys from the men. This in the eyes of the the UDP will be an equitable dispensation of power and authority. So lets not fret as these politicians will always be politicians but the electorate must be smart enough to decipher the political nuances from our established reality. The current boisterous move by the president to fire a sitting National Assembly Member is surely a test of his perceived might to consolidate his dominion. Unfortunately the move is an encroachment by the Executive and a clear unforced error on the part of the Secretary General to be an interlucutor inter alia to the whims and caprices of the Presidency. The Judicial branch of Government will only act when an aggrieved person(s) file in a suit.

I am watching the space and I do hope we don't allow ourselves to have extreme blood pressure over the jockeying and maneuvering of our political operatives. So let the games begin and it is only the shallow amongst our midst who see these tactical moves in the prism of tribal lenses. Politics is nothing out a game where the end justifies the means. Gambians must be smart enough to outwit and challenge the moves made by our politicians. A servant can't control the destiny of the master. God day Gambia let us rise up and wise up rather than fussing and fighting. Much ado about nothing must be in the past of the New Gambia.

#NyangNjie

Gambia A Case Of Poor Social Disconnect

The development of our dearly beloved Gambia will forever stall unless and  until we address the underlying social nuances that impede our development. Using Gambian social media circles as a yardstick of our behavioral traits clearly shows a country that is not at peace with itself and lacks a cohesive and homogeneous identity as Gambians.

Having stated the above, we have deep undercurrents of distrust, prejudice and social deficits that plague our collective progress as Gambians. This malaise is borne out of a poor social contract which is an extension of the colonial legacy of divide and rule. Behavioral traits are very important in the manner in which people think and ultimately behave. Gambians across all socioeconomic and ethnic divide suffer from one form f prejudice or inferiority syndrome. Living in 2019 and Gambians being a highly traveled and exposed group of people baffles me that we haven't adopted to the good things we learned from others over the years. Oftentimes, I feel like throwing in the towel and move on with all things #NYANGNJIE  but then again I am  microcosm of the bigger scheme of things. Therefore I have to relent by being part of the solution. The herd mentality and crab in a barrel syndrome is really retarding our collective resolve to build a better Gambia. Where have we gone wrong? Well in my view, Gambia is yet to address the social anomalies inherited from its colonial past and this in my view make  a lot of people harbor ill conceived and misplaced hatred towards each other. Art thou forsaken us or we just dont want to up our game to be a great nation in the neighborhood we find ourselves in.

The dog eat dog mentality will finish us sooner than we think. We bicker, we hate, we despise and most of the time without a justifiable reason. I am worried about my generation and the Gambia we want to pass on to the next one. There is advantage in our diversity and we need to harness that in furtherance of a better Gambia. Most of the people who  lash out on others have never come to a close proximity with their perceived nemesis. Thanks to the virtual space of social media, the lives of others have come closer to us than ever before. Hate the idea or issues raised by an individual not the individual for the individual is not your problem. My guide to life, the Dissiderata proclaimed that "we should not compare to others for we will always be vain and bitter". I implore on Government to create a better social contract to avert the notion of us and them cos we are all in the same boat called the Gambia and our collective resolve is what's going to make Gambia a better place.

A STUNTED GROWTH TRAJECTORY AS CELEBRATES 54

Two scores and fourteen years ago a nation was born. The birth of this nation didn't come through bloodshed but a political negotiation that left many doubting her ability to survive independently. This notion was conceived by the nay sayers who lacked hope and confidence on the newly established elongated speck of land with narrow river banks on both the North and South banks. Its geographic shape made her a thorn that literally pricks big brother Senegal.

Notwithstanding the negative prognosis, our founding fathers went ahead to establish the independent nation called The Gambia. An agrarian society that supported trade was the hallmark of her economy. Groundnut was her major export earner. The politics of the day was consumed by non nationalistic ideologies that served no ones interest. The people of the protectorate were made to believe that they need to galvanize their resolve for good representation. Another party called Muslim Congress fragmented itself to religious lines. The good old Reverend JC Faye equally had a party that centered around religion. The Wollofs had their king maker and fiefdom in athe United Party of PS Njie. Well these impediments were the building blocks of the #NewGambia of 1965. Politics there after fashioned itself on the interest groups listed above and that brought about the death of #Nationalism before it even got a chance to sprawl. The agitators of Independence brought forth the excess baggage of the colonial era by dwelling on the very divisive parameters of colonial Gambia which which drew its strength on a divide and rule strategy.

The euphoria of independence waned off after 18 February 1965 and the daunting task of nation building was entrusted on a bunch sho had noble and genuine love live for their new found country but sincerely as a collective lacked the no withal to build a of Gambians. In 1981 a rag tag militia headed by a delusional Gambian attempted to upset the realative tranquility enjoyed by Gambia. My choice of employing the cliché relative "tranquility" is very deliberate in the sense that peace is just not the absence of war. Gambia started on a poor focal contract that saw the widening of the income gap and opportunities for socioeconomic upward mobility. This amplified the chatter and contempt held by many in mainstream society and gave rise to #J22, 1994. The underwriters of July 22 Rebellion cited corruption as the basis for their disruption of civilian rule. This notion was later debunked by the Junta's position and subsequent utterances.

Gambia and Gambians were engulfed in a hellish nightmare that lasted for 22 years. This period brought about the worst in the Gambian psyche in the form of opportunism and ill will towards each other.

December 1st 2016 was a verdict that entrenched the will 9f the silent majority of Gambians who were frustrated by the inhumane Reign of the brutal brute of Kanilai. 54 years of nation hood for the Gambia didn't register major tangible for the people of the Gambia. This failure is largely due to poor leadership and lack of a national identity.  The new breed of Gambian is intolerant to bad leadership and a rude awakening is inevitable if the status quo continues. Happy independence and I do hope we collectively have a somber reflection of what we want and what is expected from us all. Happy Gambia day. May we all take a stock of our actions and muster the resolve to build a better Gambia for all.

Telecommunication Is Fast Becoming Gambia's Biggest Sector As Africell Moves To Become The Country's Biggest Tax Payer

Times have surely changed per the Gambia's business environment. Not too far in the distant past, petroleum retailing companies and Banks used to be the big boys of tax payments. Well times have surely changed as the telecomunication sector in the Gambia has come of age. 16 years ago, it was unthinkable that Africell will be not only a dominant player in the Gambian economy but a national leader in tax payments.

Africell has paid approximately 650 to 700 million dalasis in taxes to the Revenue Authority in 2018. In real terms, this represents anywhere between 9% to 11% of total tax collected in the period under review. These figures have far reaching implications on the overall economy that one needs to look at. The efforts made by Africell to bag this award has been complimented by the indirect jobs created through the distribution channel of their dealer. On a conservative estimate, Africell through its dealer have an approximately 11,000 agents. This by extension creates economic dividends to the overall economy. Telecommunications is not only a fast growth sector but a sector that will propell economic growth and Fin Tech innovation.

This sector is not only in need of government support to enhance the telecomunication architecture of the country but sound public policy to promote innovation and good service delivery. Gambians often complain about the quality of service delivered by network operators but they tend to forget that these operators invest in capital items and they expect a decent return on invest within a reasonable time frame. Unfortunately, the current tax regime and policy environment is not too conducive to make the telccommunication sector robust. Case in point, the stalled liberalisation quest to open up the market and the incessant over reach of the regulator.

Once the policy environment is robust and responsive to the demands of the telco market, the tax authority can collect more from companies such as Africell. Currently, the Gambian subscriber is yearning for cheaper international rates, and that can only be accomplished through liberalisation of the gateway. Congratulations to Africel for pushing away the petro companies and Banks from the covetted position of "BIGGEST TAX PAYER IN THE NATION".

We The People Reign Supreme. A Notice To The Political Class

Our revolution was televised and the second coming will also be televised. The guarantors of our fragile democracy (we the people) are putting on notice the political class of our utter disatisfaction of the state of affairs and management of our commonwealth. Jammeh was booted out due to his discretionary attitude towards the management of our country. Gambia is neither a fiefdom nor a personal patrimony of any politician and or interest group. We the people are the shareholders of this going concern and it shall be our way or the highway.

The direction and development trajectory this country takes lie squarely in the hands of our elected officials but I can safely say without ambiguity that that the people want is what's going to obtain.

December 1st 2016 was a vote against Jammeh not a vote for anyone. It was our day of redemption and the renewal of our dignity as Gambians. I therefore condemn in the strongest terms the abrogation of our rights and laws. I unequivocally without hesitation demand from my government to remember how they were constituted. Activism will give way to positive and genuine aspirations to develop this country. Equally, activism will be activated when our rights are trampled on or that of other Gambians. For duty, honour and country, I remain a humble servant of my conscience and country.

Watch the space as the evolution of our new democracy takes the course the people choose not the whims and caprices of the politicians. There comes a time when citizens muster the resolve to  steer the course of civic action.

#Nyang_Njie

Is The Gambian Economy Stupid? #Budget2019 An Utter Disregard Of The Gambian Macro Fundamentals

Fiscal Prudence is what the Doctor ordered. #Budget2019 is worrisome and taming of fiscal dominance is what the economy needs. The core macro fundamentals of this economy are neither robust nor sound to absorb the proposed expansionary fiscal measures such as the 50% salary increase. Inflation is likely to creep when disposable income increases especially at the proposed rate of 50%. Watch the video for the rest

Gambia Fiscal 2019. An Ambitious Budget Without Sound Macro Fundamentals

Macroeconomic Stability is the anchor for economic growth and prosperity. A country cannot tax it's way to prosperity. Therefore fiscal prudence and economic growth strategies must be the strategic objective of any government.

Having said the above, I want to register my concerns on an ambitious budget for fiscal 2019. The budget process is a combination of several activities  starting with the formulation of a resource envelope. This envelope takes into consideration all macro activities and opportunities in terms of our revenue drive. Hitherto to the formulation of a resource  envelope, a call circular is drafted for eventual bilateral consultations between sectors and the exchequer (Ministry of Finance). The 2019 budget is over reaching and grossly ambitious without sound macro fundamentals to back the expansionary fiscal drive. The stance of the government on the 2019 budget can create inflationary tendencies and also raise deficit financing which will in turn increase the domestic debt and consequently, raise the policy and interest rates of the Central Bank.

The desire by government to increase salaries by 50% is noble but lacks a logical construct based on prudent economic management. I wonder if the economy is stupid or the custodians of policy are taking the macroeconomic environment for a joke. The government must first engage in civil service reform by down sizing the government then use the savings to properly renumerate the workers.

I foresee a lackluster performance in 2019 and an economy that is severely taxed. God bless the Gambia but our economic woes are largely a result of politically expedient decisions that disregard good economic thought and policy. Our last Flicker of hope lies with the Assembly. I do hope for once, they tame the excesses of government by taking their oversight function seriously in order to the much needed fiscal consolidation and productive sector development and growth.

Nyang Njie

Open Letter To His Excellency President Adama Barrow

Open Letter to President Barrow

Your Excellency President Barrow

I write this letter to you with trepidation and anxiety, as a concerned citizen in our nascent democracy, which you fondly call New Gambia. With utmost respect, Mr. President, let me remind you that the Presidency is an institution and all your powers are derived from the sovereign citizens of the Gambia as clearly stated in section 1 (2) of the 1997 Constitution which reads:

“ The Sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the people of The Gambia from whom all organs of the government derive their authority and in whose name and for whose welfare and prosperity the powers of the government are to be exercised in accordance with this Constitution ”

Mr. President, let me take this opportunity to remind you that all the powers you exercise are subject to limits set by the supreme law of The Gambia, our Constitution as stated in section 61 (2)
 
“ The President shall uphold and defend this Constitution as the supreme law of the Gambia”

Mr. President, We as citizens as the repository of the sovereign powers of the state, have delegated our powers to your office to execute your duties in accordance with the laws of the land. Mr. President, you are the custodian or trustee of powers that belongs to the people, a powers bestowed to you by the people and powers to execute in the interest of the people. In a nutshell, all your powers and legitimacy are derived from the citizenry.

The good citizens of The Gambia broke the shackles of a brutal dictatorship and are still healing from a very dark episode of that history. The freedoms we enjoy today were not handed to us on a platter but are rather the result of sacrifices of patriotic Gambians - some of whom paid the ultimate price, may their lives rest in peace. 

Mr. President I find it hard to believe that you allegedly made the statement that “The Gambian people were scared of Yahya Jammeh’s power because he had the police, the SIS, the Army, but I am more powerful because I have the Police, the SIS, the Army and ECOMIG forces”[ my emphasis]. 

Mr. President, with utmost respect, the Police is our police, the SIS is our SIS and the ECOMIG is our ECOMIG. Mr. President, as Commander in Chief, your duty is to uphold the Constitution and command the security forces in accordance with the dictates of the Law as provided in section 61 (1) & (2) of the Constitution.

Mr. President, Never again will our security apparatus be used at the whim of any leader against the citizenry or any person for that matter.  Mr. President all security forces are servants of the sovereign people of the country albeit under your command at our behest. We trust and expect that the era of Presidential directives to our security forces is a thing of the past. 

Mr. President, our country is at a crossroad. As we are trying to build the foundation of our democracy (Constitutional Review Commission ”CRC”) and seeking to heal as a nation (Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission “ TRRC”  ), the youths are anxious and impatient, and want to reap the democratic dividends now. 

Mr. President, the same security forces you mentioned as belonging to you, belonged to your predecessor and were used as instruments of oppression against the citizenry. Mr. President, rest assured that the fear factor is a thing of the past. We defiantly stood up against your predecessor at the height of the political impasse despite his army, NIA (now SIS) and Police. #GambiaHasDecided against tyranny or any form of Dictatorship.

Mr. President, with such a statement, what message are you sending to the CRC and the TRRC?  Our nascent democracy is still fragile; the citizenry is learning the new ways of living under a democracy with all their expectations and aspirations.  

Now, more than ever, as our leader, as captain of our ship, we are yearning for unity and peace. We are yearning for a “ New Gambia ” where the basic essentials such as water, quality education, health care and decent employment opportunities are available to Gambians, particularly the poor and the underserved.  We are yearning for transformational leadership and not politics of rhetoric or division. Mr. President, we respectfully remind you of your own slogan one people, one nation and one destiny.

Mr. President, I hope and trust that you will recalibrate and refocus on making Gambia great. Mr. President, humility is a great trait and will endear you to Gambians. I humbly ask for the old President Adama Barrow to come back and steer our country to greatness.

For the Gambia our Homeland





Salieu Taal
Initiator  #GambiaHasDecided
Concerned Citizen

WHAT IS IN A NUMBER? WHO PAYS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW NUMBER PLAN

In telecommunications, a lot rides in a number. A numbering plan is a telecommunication scheme through which telephone numbers are assigned to subscribers and telephony endpoints. Each telephone number is an address assigned to an endpoint in a network through which a designated subscriber can be reached. Depending on the local telephony requirements and network, a numbering plan can follow a number of strategies. Generally, operators are differentiated by a prefix (the digit their number range starts with. Well this is rapidly changing due to the introduction of number portability. Number portability implies that a subscriber of telephony services can move from one network to another by maintaining a unique number. This clearly is a break through in telecommunication as numbers are a national resource that needs to be efficiently and effectively managed. 

In the case of Gambia, our number plan is not only poorly managed by the regulator but it is frivolously allocated without due concern to future needs of this scare resource. As at today, our number plan has 9 ranges 1-9 and each series has a possible combination of One Million numbers thereby giving our telecommunications sector 9 million numbers. Generally, the 1 series is reserved for public service etc. 2 and 7 are allocated to Africell, 3 and parts of the 5 series are allocated to Qcell, 6 is allocated to Comium, 9 is allocated to Gamcel whilst 4,8,5 are allocated for the various services offered by Gamtel.

There are talks to introduce a new number plan. This has adverse effects to destination Gambia as it will take time for callers reaching the destination to be aware of the changes on the additional digit(s) added on our existing numbers. In addition, there is a financial cost associated with migrating the number plan. The cost of such a migration will ultimately be passed on to the subscribers by the operators. Now the million-dollar question is Should Gambia Migrate to a NEW Number Plan? The answer is an emphatic no because the Gambia is yet to exhaust the 9 million potential numbers within our existing plan. The 4 and 5 series are used by Gamtel for their land lines and it’s a known fact that nationally Gamtel doesn’t have more than 75,000 lines and this figure is even on the high side. This implies that within the 4 and 5 series we have a surplus of 1,925,000 possible numbers to use. It is also noteworthy to mention that the 8 series is used for the CDMA (Jamano) service and no more that 40,000 clients subscribe to that service nationally. That leaves us with a surplus of 960,000 numbers not in use. This therefore implies that there is an inefficient use of our scare resource (number range). 

I therefore called on our regulator PURA to look into the rationalization and effective use of our scarce resource rather than adding additional cost to an already over burden subscribers who pay one of the highest tariffs in the region for data. PURA must concentrate on making the sector more innovative by rewarding investments into the sector. The Quality of Service (QOS) Model to be adopted by PURA must reward innovation and investments. It baffles me that a 2.5G Network (Comium) is still allowed to sell data to Gambian subscribers. This is not only appaling but must be halted. Alternatively, Comium must be charged a hefty SPECTRUM FEE to discourage the use of such technology. In a nutshell, PURA is aiding COMIUM to milk their dilapidated infrastructure that is not in line with the technological advances Gambian subcribers deserve. An investor in the Gambian Telecommunication sector must avail the Regulator (PURA) with a 5 year roll out plan per their capital expenditure to make their networks efficient and responsive to the needs of the subscribers.

The Gambia Telecommunications Architecture needs a rethink! Innovate or Pay. The case of Comium a 2.5G Operator

Telecommunications is the gateway to prosperity for any progressive nation. The policy direction adopted by a country determines 0the quality of service rendered to its populace and dividends accrued to the subscribers of telephony services and by extension the economy at large. Little over a year ago, I wrote about the telco sector with much emphasis on the international gateway and the reluctance of government to fully liberalize the sector to optimize the gains for the subscribers of telco services.

Well time has elapsed and not much has changed in the telecommunication landscape of the Gambia both in terms of regulation  and the desired outcomes expected by the frustrated subscribers of telephony services in the Gambia. At the heart of the maligned policy environment is the absence of a market driven regulatory environment whereby the regulator understands that regulation is all about equity by creating a state of Pareto Optimality where every one is made better off without making anyone worse of. This is logically possible if the regulator and the policy formulators understand that innovation is the driver of prosperity in the tech sector. The desire for innovation must be rewarded at all times. Having said that, I expect the regulator and the government to revisit the license regime governing operators in the Gambia by giving them a fiscal incentive for augmenting their capital investments in the market. Equally companies ought to be punished for delivering sub par services ( poor voice quality, permanent half bit rate voice across the network, poor and inadequate network topology) etc. It baffles me that the Government of the Gambia is still renewing the license of a 2.5 G operator to continue to sell data products in the local market. This is not only a regulatory anomaly but an affront to the subscribers of telephony services of our beloved nation. The time has come for the regulator to to recommend the revision of any operator selling data on a 2.5G to either upgrade or strictly operate as a voice operator. Case in point #ComiumGambiaLimited whose technology is below the wants and need of the average subscriber considering the fact that Data is King. Our national appetite for data capacity has exponentially grown over the years and the policy direction must encourage the investment of capital items in the sector by operators to address the frenzy of mobile data in the market

My prayer to the regulator and the policy formulates is to be more responsive to the needs of the Gambian subscribers by rewarding innovation and punishing the lack of technological advancements by our operators. A 2.5G network has no place in 2018 Gambia where our wants and needs per telecommunication is data driven. Companies have a right to live and the right to die and the choices they make in the course of doing business determines the trajectory they take.

Let's start 2019 with a responsive telco sector that will further open up the country than encourage  operators to further milk a depreciated asset at the expense of society. Let them innovate or pay. This concept  implies that we reward positive technological efforts or down grade a license at a cost by allowing 2.5G networks to strictly offer voice products.