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