Corruption Galore: Yahya Jammeh Spends $500,000 On Hawaii Vacationers, Wastes Million More –Girls, Armored Car, 11 Buses, Air Tickets, Family etc, etc
By EBRIMA G. SANKAREH, Editor-In-Chief
In our September 2nd. 2008 lead story captioned “Nissangate” we reported that President Yahya Jammeh was lavishly using Gambia Government money to throw beachfront parties in Hawaii’s exquisite resorts for American beauty pageants while Gambians could not afford to feed themselves. We promised to investigate the matter and talk to our attorneys before we could proceed with the amazing details. Today, we have all the relevant documents and photos about the President’s spending spree and unbelievable use of public funds with reckless disregard. In the coming days, we will be publishing the story in segments to help the reader appreciate the degree to which Yahya Jammeh and regime have woefully betrayed the Gambian people. Later to day, we will begin with Yahya Jammeh’s sponsor of African American (Black Americans) beauty queens to Hawaii in excess of $500,000 US Dollars between July, 2007-December, 2007. The e-mail below from one of these girls was forwarded to our editorial desk as evidence of the allegation that indeed President Jammeh paid for the trip and had promised to further sponsor their trip to the poor West African state last February.
Date: Dec 26, 2007 11:02 AM
Subject: photos from Hawaii
Hello Everyone,
While we were in Hawaii, we were able to locate the number one photographer on the island, thanks to Lauren Parkes, Miss Black Delaware. He graciously provided us with 8 hours of a free photo shoot. He generally charges $15, 000.00 per every 4 hours and gave us the entire photo shoot for free. He only asked in return to be able to use our photos in his portfolio. His photos are incredible. We wait with great anticipation for the disc of all the shots. So I thought I would share the photos.
We were tremendously blessed again with a fabulous trip compliments of His Excellency. We all had a wonderful time, filled with worship, prayer, fellowship and lot of fun.
Enjoy.
Lastly, The Gambia's independence day is Feb. 18, 2008, and His Excellency would like for us to return again to celebrate with him. I will begin planning the return trip after the beginning of the New Year, so for those interested, please keep your schedule clear.
I will keep in touch. God bless and a Happy New Year to all.”
Editor’s Note: In the past several days, The Echo Editor’s phone was inundated with phone calls from friends, old schoolmates, colleagues some of whom felt that Nissanagate may have been sourced by a malicious fellow within the regime. We had told all of them that we will continue to report without malice or ill will but that in the struggle to liberate our country we are prepared to loose family, friends as well as our own lives if that is what it takes. What is good for the goose is necessarily good for the gander and we cannot renege on our civic responsibilities because of friendship or family. Stay tuned to The Echo for a more detailed report.
Alhaji Yahya Jammeh&Deleware Beauty Queen Lauren Elizabeth Parkes