The UK should not be hoodwinked or bamboozled by the signing of condolences book by a whole lot of politicians on Queen’s passing as a genuine love for Her Majesty.
The UK government needn’t a hard look at things to know that The Gambia has long severed its links with the monarchy, albeit not by words but actions.
When Her Majesty passed away “peacefully” at the Balmoral retreat in Scotland, there was no palpable mourning in The Gambia.
It was business as usual!
People cared less not because they’re immersed in the daily worries of making the ends meet but they don’t see Queen’s death, at such a ripe age of over 90, as worthy enough to deprive them of their little joys and peace of mind amid a plethora of troubles to brood over.
Many Gambians have little or no respect for the monarchy because they see it as an institution of oppression and an enabler of impoverishment.
This is one of the reasons you will never see a landmark in the entire Gambia, memorializing the Queen or the monarchy.
If they were here, they’ve all been obliterated now!
The British left us poorer than they met us because they milked the country without feeding it.
Over 300 years of over taxation and dismantling of our traditional institutions did not leave us any better.
Restricting the country to the production of raw materials to oil the wheels of the British economy has left us more retarded and still unable to wriggle ourselves from this cash crop mentality and dependency.
And for the British to know that Gambians care lesser about the Queen’s death, even the national flag was not flown at half mast as far as we know.
Queen brings heartache and sorrow to many Gambians of this generation because, for them, she symbolizes the darkest recesses of colonialism.
Consequently, many Gambians think her demise should, in fact, trigger this honest conversation around a rethink of the British government’s development policy towards the country.
Gambia does not need only military support from the former colonialists.
The country would also like them to partner with it in key areas of development such as infrastructure and education beyond Chevening scholarships.
He, who took much, much is expected!
