By Tijan Nimaga, Bronx, New York 

The Gambian economy is at a very fragile state. The civil servants of the current regime are just living on the brinks of an unstable government, which has failed to implement any possible future progress to develop the nation and to meet the demands of its work force. During the best years of The Gambia’s PPP government under the leadership of Alhagi Sir Dawda Jawara, teachers at all levels were properly treated and their salaries paid on time. In the early 1980s the teaching field was one of the most rewarding source of employment within the country. Ambitious young men who could not afford College fees would take teaching as a mile stone towards (HTC) High Teachers’ Certificate course at The Gambia College, Brikama, the only college in the country at the time. Upon graduation, these young, ambitious teachers will from there begin their careers as qualified teachers with better salaries. Today though, it seems as if those days never existed. In those glorious days, when the Gambia government Land Rover pulled up at any primary or secondary school, the atmosphere of joy it brought to teachers as the paymaster began to hand them their salaries were days that even president Yaya Jammeh could recollect during his childhood. Today though hardly anyone would like to take teaching as a future career in The Gambia due to its unproductive income. The Gambian economy has worsened to the extent that the cost of living is now barely affordable. About ten years ago, a 50kg bag of rice cost less than three hundred Dalasis and a bag of sugar was also at a lesser price than the current dismal price. Today, anyone who cannot afford six hundred to seven hundred Dalasis to buy a bag rice will have to live on bread or face starvation. There is no more price control on merchandises. During a telephone conversation with one of my old time school friends, he describes the prices in stores as self-pricing, where shopkeepers are the Department of Price Control. They alone decide and price their merchandise the way they want without any regard to the poor consumers.

Ex-Central Bank Gov.Famara Jatta& Jammeh

 The failed economy has seriously affected transportation and communication within the country. Some twelve years ago, it takes just one day to cover the distance between Kartong in the Western Division and Koina in the Upper Division. Today though the journey along these two towns in The Gambia takes a minim of at least three days and most cases recently, nearly a week. Sometimes, I wonder whether those who support Yahya Jammeh’s development are blind, both literally and metaphorically?

            In a related case, Mr. Famara Jatta the Governor of The Gambia’s Central Bank (Gambia’s National Treasury) a key player in The Gambia’s growing economic difficulties, has resigned leaving the country in a deep unsolved economic crisis with an uncertain future. It is not completely clear why Mr. Jatta finally decided to resign but there are speculations that it is due to undue pressure from President Yaya Jammeh. Resignation under Yahya Jammeh’s regime in any form has two main characteristics. One of the two is, being forced to resign for fear of a possible future investigation. A senior official is forcing the second on the grounds that may reveal any secret transactions that might provoke investigation in the future. Mr. Famara Jatta who has worked in numerous ministerial posts under the current regime has served as the Governor of The Gambia’s Central Bank for the past four years. According to recent press reports Mr. Famara Jatta has a new job with the African Development Bank (ADB) where he is expected to be a representative for Sudan. Mr. Famara Jatta is currently in Sudan to begin his new job while his colleagues struggle with the scandal and the mystery surrounding the loss of D800 million in The Gambia.

 The Gambia Central Bank quickly reminds me of 1971 when our national hero, the former President of the Republic of The Gambia Alhagi Sir Dawda Jawara appeared on our bank notes and coins. It became a symbol of victory for The Gambia’s postcolonial elites and a generation later. No matter how bad those days were, the economy of The Gambia at that time was very stable and improving. Now the man who knew every single transaction made towards the D800 million scandal has himself resigned making it very difficult for whoever succeeds him to audit and find out where the D800 million went. The sudden departure of the Governor of The Gambia Central Bank is a huge blow to the nation. Mr. Famara Jatta perhaps has the answer that every concerned citizen wants to know. In my own opinion, as a patriotic citizen it is not very difficult to tell or figure out where that D800 million was spent. Everyone in The Gambia is well aware of the numerous parties that were held at Kanilai including the Miss World Beauty Pageant that consumed millions of Gambian Dalasis, money that should have been used to develop the nation. That undisclosed amount was spent on events that will not benefit the nation. Or were the bulldozers that Lamin Sonko of Boto Construction, was accused of stealing bought from the D800 million that is missing? Or was it spent on sponsoring the Casamance Rebels? You ponder! When this news broke out, I went out to make my own research and this is what I found. The World Bank has made proposed plans to help The Gambia fight poverty and also to improve the living standards of the people of The Gambia since the year 2006.The World Bank has approved a total of 34 IDA credit for The Gambia this totaling to approximately US296 million. The commitment value of seven ongoing World Bank operations with the approved amount of US 86.9 millions targeted these key areas: Agriculture, Fishing & Forestry, Education, Health and other Social Services, Industry Trade, Information & Communications, Law, Public Administration, Transport, Water, Sanitation & Flood Protection. Now the man who is the main architect of these development project plans has left. His efforts and any plans began by him will be delayed especially, in the wake of the missing D800Million. But can Mr. Famara Jatta’s successor deal with the mystery he left behind?

       If President Yaya Jammeh is indeed the one that pressured the Governor of the Gambia Central Bank to resign, then it has been done as an attempt to seal information that would lead to the final answer to the 800 million scandal. Mr. President you are in State House or perhaps hiding in Fort Bullen each night but your every move and action is being closely watched and although we are far away, we know the answers to some of your moves. On behalf of every Gambian both at home and abroad, the nation will deal with anyone trying to temper with our national treasure and here I mean everyone starting with myself and ending with you President Yaya Jammeh. Mr. President The Central Bank of The Gambia is our National Treasury, an important reminder in case you have forgotten.Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this article or any other article or image, or portions thereof, in any form or context without the expressed permission of The Gambia Echo Newspaper.