Commentary

Whither heads The Gambia? - Part I

By D. A. Jawo, Banjul The Gambia

Veteran Gambian journalist and former president of the embattled Gambia Press Union (GPU), the intrepid Demba A. Jawo has just concluded his annual vacation in the West African state of The Gambia and while there took an objective examination of the looming political and economic activities of the country’s autocratic leader, Yahya Jammeh. Below we begin Part I of Mr. Jawo’s candid and biting observations. 

Recently, while on my annual leave in The Gambia, I also took the opportunity to have a closer look at the situation in the country, particularly in view of the several complaints about the deteriorating governance environment, including the growing hostility towards the media and free speech, as well as the several other embarrassing stories emanating from the country.

Indeed, I soon realized that the closer one looks at the prevailing atmosphere, the more one gets embarrassed as a Gambian concerned about the country's image and credibility. It is extremely hard to comprehend most of what goes on in the country, particularly with regard to governance and the almost total disregard for the rule of law and basic human rights, with journalists and the opposition being constantly harassed and prevented from exercising their basic rights and responsibilities. While at the same time, civil society has almost been completely paralyzed, with everyone either keeping quiet or being transformed into 'finas' (praise singers), singing praises of President Yahya Jammeh.

The first embarrassment any genuine Gambian is faced with is no doubt the cult syndrome being built around President Jammeh, making him not only appear like an infallible super human being, but also the only person in the country who knows everything and responsible for every good thing, while heaping all the blame of whatever goes wrong on his ministers and other officials, hence the frequent sackings, arrests and humiliations of public officials, which are usually followed by re-instatements of those same officials. This is no doubt an indication that all such decisions emanate from one person, which is President Jammeh himself, making all relevant government institutions such as the Personnel Management Office (PMO) and the Public Service Commission (PSC), as well as virtually all other state institutions and officials as mere puppets who only carry out “orders from above?”

However, one of the biggest embarrassments endured by all Gambians is no doubt President Jammeh's habit of going about throwing biscuits and other food items at people on the streets during his numerous processions and outings. It is not only a dangerous antic which causes people to fight over such things and some of them, particularly the children, end up sustaining injuries in the process, but it is also quite demeaning to subject the people to such humiliations as if they are desperate internally displaced persons who have nothing to eat.

The other embarrassing situations that Gambians face on a daily basis are the praises being heaped on President Jammeh for his benevolence and love for humanity by the public media and his numerous sycophants, as well as the numerous photographs and huge portraits of him at almost every street junction and public space, including state institutions, and also on virtually every electricity pylon all over the country. What is even more irritating is the fact that most of these portraits are sponsored by Gamcel, the national GSM operator, no doubt costing the Gambian tax payers millions of Dalasis. It is indeed hard for any reasonable person to imagine any justification for such irresponsible use of public money just to boost the image of an individual when the average Gambian is struggling for his/her daily economic survival.

Also, with the advent of Tobaski and the end of year season, newspapers and the national television are filled with daily full page advertorials from all government departments and agencies with prayers and wishes for the health of President Jammeh and his family, of course at the expense of the Gambian tax payers, which irresponsible use of public money only happens in The Gambia and nowhere else in the civilized world.

Another embarrassing situation is the transformation of the entire country into one huge collective farm, with everyone being required at one time or the other to go and offer "free labour" at one of President Jammeh's numerous farms dotted all over the country. Virtually on a daily basis, one either reads in the ruling party's mouth-piece, the Daily Observer or hears on the state-controlled Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) about groups of civil servants and employees of para-statal organizations being mobilized to work on his farms at Kanilai and other parts of the Kombos.

While up-country, people are also being frequently mobilized by Divisional Governors and the District Chiefs to provide "free labour" on his other farms set up in all the 36 districts of the country, and the proceeds transported to him.

It is now harvest time and as such, GRTS has constantly been announcing appeals by President Jammeh himself for more help, which is indeed enough pretext for those in authority to mount a vigorous campaign to compel their employees to come out in large numbers on a daily basis to offer "free labour", and woe be tide anyone who fails to turn up because that is enough reason to earn the sack.

However, despite the consequences of failure by any civil servant to answer to such calls to work on the farm, the response to such "voluntary" work appears to be dwindling as most people now see a big contradiction between President Jammeh's "back to the land" philosophy and his constant appeals for people to go and work on his farms instead, which most people are beginning to interpret as naked exploitation and abuse of power. "When he urged people to go back to the land, we expected him to encourage them to set up their own farms instead of compelling them to go and work on his farms," said an irate civil servant, who for quite obvious reasons chose to be anonymous.

In addition to being branded as the country's best farmer, no doubt thanks to the "free labour" being rendered to him, President Jammeh has also been involved in numerous other business ventures in the country. For instance, he is said to be engaged in the public transport business, virtually squeezing the state-owned Gambia Public Transport Corporation (GPTC) out of business. He is also said to be involved in bakery, butchery, sale of rice, cement, vegetables, sale of Tobaski rams, and even the mining and sale of sand and gravel for construction, as well as virtually every other business venture in the country, which is in complete contravention of Section 67 of the Constitution which states in sub-section (4) that "The President shall not-

(a) while he or she continues in office as President, hold any other office of profit or emolument whether public or private, occupy any other position carrying the right to remuneration for the rendering of services, or directly or indirectly carry on any trade, business or other undertaking;

Provided that the President may undertake and carry on any agricultural business including farming, horticulture, livestock rearing and artisanal fishing;

(b) undertake any activity inconsistent with his or her official position or expose himself or herself to any situation which carries with it the risk of a conflict developing between his or her official concerns and his or her private interests;

(c) use his or her position as such or use information entrusted to receive by him or her in an official position directly or indirectly to enrich himself or herself or any other person."

What is however even more amazing is the fact that President Jammeh is engaged in quite unfair competition with the country's business community. This is because he has the advantage of the state apparatus to conduct his business. We have seen that government premises, including the governors' offices all over the country as well as other state properties being used as sales distribution outlets for his goods and services, and no doubt using state employees to render "free" services to him. Indeed, the situation is such that there is now hardly any clear distinction between his business ventures and state affairs. For instance, it is hard to reconcile engaging army officers as his full time farm managers, as well as using army recruits to work on his farms while they continue to be paid from state coffers.

Also, while members of the business community had to spend huge sums of money in order to advertise their goods and services on GRTS and the private media, President Jammeh does not only get free and frequent advertisement on GRTS, but in the most unethical manner, GRTS has been using those advertisements as part of its news bulletins. For instance, two days before Tobaski, there was a special programme on TV in which he appeared advertising his Tobaski rams, of course at the expense of the small farmers and businessmen who sell rams. This is indeed the biggest mockery of fair competition.

Look out for Part II