President Adama Barrow will Friday return to Banjul from Brussels, Belgium where donors have pledged at least €1.45 billion ($1.71 billion) to support his government to achieve its five-year development plan.
Tuesday’s donor meeting in Brussels took place amidst trepidation over a preliminary study by the International Monetary Fund which warned that Gambia’s debt vulnerabilities remain high and advised Banjul to chase grants instead of loans to address its spending needs.
Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, vice president of the Gambia said the pledges, when fulfilled, would advance the government’s development agenda to move the country from its numerous development constraints emanating from 22 years of former President Yahya Jammeh.
She said the success of the donor conference was a demonstration of President Barrow’s leadership. She called on Gambians and well-wishers to take to Banjul International Airport and along the streets to welcome Mr Barrow
“The government gives thanks to Allah Almighty, in the Holy Month of Ramadan, for His Excellency Adama Barrow’s demonstrated leadership and historic achievement,” the Vice President said.
“The Government extends its sincere gratitude to the international partners, particularly the UNDP and European Union (EU), for their unflinching support in the preparatory and holding processes of the roundtable Conference that has resulted to this historic achievement.
Heroes welcome! You must be kidding. Yes we are happy that the president had a successful trip and a productive meeting with potential Donors. We certainly congratulate him and his team. A heroes welcome is very inappropriate and the VP should not have encouraged such. We build dangerous personalities with our sycophancy. Please let us refrain from creating another monster like Yahya Jammeh.
God Bless The Gambia.
Heroes welcome is linguistically and contextually flawed. *Fatoumatta beng nfaala maloola*.
Such is reserved for sports jamborees, military triumphs and those moments where great adversities are surmounted and victory is achieved.
Just as Bax has warned against pomp and extravagance just a day or two ago, these people come galloping once again with a fanfare agenda.
One wonders when will it all end.
Am loosing hope and faith in our collective ability to create a Gambia that we can all be proud of.
Dida, over to you.
Well, Lamin, our friend Njundu Drammeh says that it is all “A Bird in the Bush” (i.e. NOT in the hand!). I say, with Muriel in Animal Farm when she was asked such a question: “Donkeys Live a Long Time”. Let us wait and see whether the “bird” shall indeed be caught – as you know I have never trusted a white man.
“Historic achievements?” Looks like the circus is here to stay. Official encouragement to idleness, as if there’s nothing better to do. You can’t make it up.
I reserve my contents. But please heed to my earlier warnings that these CORRUPT and INCOMPETENT people are here for personal and family aggradizement. Nothing else.
When that money comes (if at all it comes), we’ll be like another Nigeria: abundant natural and material resources in abject poverty. Because the CORRUPT and CORRUPTIBLE will make hay while their sun shines! Almighty Allah (SWT) please help us!
Folks, let’s all keep a watchful eye on Dida’s Mommy, Aja Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang!
Bajaw, NYEH JAARRO YA KO DII BAA LA?
Lamin, E TONYA LA.
Abeh Mfaala Malo La.
Are we seeing the makings of another Isatou NJAI-SAIDY?
Eh Dunyaa!!
Andrew, I admire your memory! Clearly you are a devoted reader of mine and devoured all my writings religiously. However, you may have miss-contexted the “Mommy” bit some 16 months later. I think I was being mischievious and winding someone up?
Bajaw, Musukoto Salo will be here soon. So are we gonna sing, “Mbaa Musu Kumbaa Mbeh La Lo To, Ka Tuubalu Maa Woyo?
The National Development Plan is encouraging Andrew; the rest are “political gamesmanship” at best…?
The walk (journey) is still in ‘the woods’ for Gambia…
The Presidential term-limit & other necessary updates in the Constitution after the review, will facilitate positivity eventually among others….
God bless Gambia…
We are in Ramadan Andrew; it’s Kitimoh first before the Saalo, & others Saalos to follow…
Well Dida, you wrote it and poor Andrew digested it.
I’m not so sure about the “mis-contexting” part though.
And Bajaw help me out here. Isn’t the Salo a Farato whereas the Sukuwo is a Sunno, that can be, in Dida’s words, be contextualized or mis-contextualized to be sung whenever and wherever with coded messages, Sandolu and Nyambasolu?
So we can very well sing, Sukuu Fatoumata Wo Salalaaw, E Beh Molu Faa La Malo La Salalaaw.
Kind of lightening the mood but still sending a message in typical Kombo Brikama fashion.
Thus the Mbaa Musu Kumbaa!
Andrew your riddles are the killer. I sing along….
……salalaaw ñiamatoo baal ya salalaaw.
Suuku Farrmatta woo, salalaaw taa e laa boorolu ming bang salalaaw…….
Dida you’ve heard all these words before, just not in written form.
That’s the tragedy for us Africans.
One can never accurately translate the meaning of those semi-religious songs which we have invented by ourselves. Such beautiful art.
These are also disappearing for reasons:
1) They are not scripted.
2) The pressure from the anglicization process of every domain of our lives.
You know, the white man has stolen it all. Even our concept of and about existence is not being spared.
Cheiiii Aduna!
All Greek to the Luntango Andrew – but since you directed it to Bajaw I will let it flow over my head!
Andrew, ehm; err that Sukuwo emanated from the ‘Kaabu Sillahs’ – collective citizenry resident in kombo & other parts of the Gambia; don’t blame it on the kombo nkolu alone; knowing the “Urchin in the Andrew Pjalo” person, (just like in some of the Etijang-preachers style) I tried “a coercive dodgy-hand response, in the spirit of Ramadan? (Fast – stomach, tongue, eyes, ears, etc” …
In all sense, Madam Aja Tambajang is ‘our Mother’ collectively; & a politician (political-animal) at same time; but she is a “humanist” unlike (my) “aunty” Njie Saidy; who danced in Tango with the evil kanilai Devildom all along the way, in blood-soaked dresses & hands; in laundry-twists to cleanse the evidence in the colder-blood butchery of defenceless children in students demonstration in particular; Isatou Njie Saidy also “chaired the Murderdom council, then duped “security council” who were said to be identifying & earmarking for elimination of the people considered threat to their self-perpetuation in name of the community; even when) she,) dressed in white, in reminiscent of the Aids cure kanilai Devil messiah “Assobee” when in mourn of my late uncle Jay Saidy; Mr Saidy was “my uncle” through a friend (Mus)Tapha Jallow, himself late too; how it sends some “shivers down my spine”, questioning my self repeatedly, what happened to the “humble aunty” I used to remember meeting on the numerous visits I had in Tapha’s company to the Saidy home on Kairaba Avenue?…
It’s for the politicians to play the political football; whilst NOT to keep their eyes (MINDS & HEARTS) off the ball; for the Deserving (Gambia) Community we all (MUST) owe (our collective) convictions to; especially those mandatorily entrusted with the public & communal responsibility; who are themselves being remunerated from the “public purse” for our genuine collective progression realisation….
It’s someway to go Andrew; Nation Building is for one to do your (own) bit graciously; & pass the ever rotating baton onto the following generation into posterity; the politicians must know we are keenly in watch; all times….
God bless Gambia….
Andrew; I knew I won’t getaway without fully answering; the Kombo nkolu have that “mischievous-trouble” funny (Chonchong-To = urchins in hyperbole) type of a sturbon young man; who isn’t scared to touch things (directly with his hands) that, even angels will refer to but, rather not touch…
In the same token veins; on the “spirit of the very same ‘dialogue’ recently called for” by Lady Trade minister Touray; I call on Madam vice president Tambajang, (directly/advisers) to use her humble (good) office (as the symbol of the bridge linking the executive & legislative: & link the governors & the governed in extension) to let go off our brother-environmentalists, in down town Gunjur; being harassed currently; on `kangaroo – charges` (according to some media reports), through deliberate misinformations & misinterpreted laws, by those in the civil courts; (who are supposed to be honest adjustors, but hand-tied in dictations); in reminiscent of the Manding “Jaalo-singho beh lorring foorango kaang” Adage….?
Golden Lead, evidently are the aggressive-culprits & offenders; as have been credibly established by known NDEA Court injunctions in this environmental saga; any material damages are legally quantitative (qualified/quantified) ‘running-costs’ for Golden Lead company otherwise as “collateral damages”; that are taken care of in contingency(budgets); which I fervently believe the company is deriving, gaining back in profits on operations….
We (Gambia) won’t take the politicians lying down if anyone thinks they will any longer succeed in “toying about” with issues that need, warrant the politicians to take care of honestly; & resolve in the overall benefits of the community; to best of one’s ability….
Isn’t this environmental damage directly impacting on all humanity; including the very factory propritors & government officials & the innocent peasantry population; by interlinks of the food-chains, as living things & beings in inter-dependency, & the air that’s breathe in, by we all, & currently being polluted by Golden Lead…???
The community have a responsibility to see to the truth taking to deliberate on issues of communal importance of a magnitude; this particular issue is certainly one of those….
God bless Gambia….
Rectification please – honest adjudicators, but hand-tied in dictations… & factory proprietors…
Thank you…
Well said Bajaw. Nna Nyolu, Isatou Touray, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang must strive to rise above the fray in fulfillment of their motherly and fence mending roles.
Tonyaa, Jalo Singo Beh Forango To but to live the honorable life, the ladies must not only focus on FENGO, their own well being but also look to earn their places as pillars in Gambian society. The Hijaab alone is not enough!
In Kombo Kaffu Dokuwo Bajaw, it’s the menfolk that typically saw the strokes but if things go wrong this time around, MBEH MUSOLU FANANG SABA LALEH DEH! Ala Sabaa, Andrew would scream! It’ll be followed with the apology, ALU HAKEH TU, NGA MOSII LEH DORONG after doing the honors.
On another note Bajaw, I understand that this is Sung Karoo but there’s nothing amiss about chiming in to the Sukuwo with your statement to be followed with the Salalaaw. Lamin did! So why don’t you? Otherwise I will coin one for you Bajaw straight from Demba Duu. Maybe start with Bajaw Kung Baa Mbeh La Lo To Ka Tuubali Maa…. Smile. I will sing you the Kembujay Mamudu one as a bonus.
Dr Isatou Sarr,
Please read on and tell us where your president succeeded in his Brussels donor conference. Maybe he succeeded in taking a large entourage to receive the usual fat per diem emoluments.
The White man will NEVER hand over 1.45 Billion Euros to tiny Gambia without strings/strict conditions tied onto our necks for the next BILLION years in servitude and subjugation. It would be ludicrous for any learned fellow to wishfully believe that story.
This is the hidden truth, the LIES to baffle The Gambian people. The 1.45 BILLION euros will NEVER redeem us from poverty!
READ ON!!!
“Half Of The €1. 45 Billion Pledge At Donor Conference Is A Loan” EU Ambassador
By Lamin Sanyang – June 2, 2018 2648
Attila Lajos, EU Ambassador to The Gambia, on Friday said that the €1. 45 Billion Euros pledge to The Gambia at the recent donor conference held at Brussels has both grant and loan packages.
News of the €1. 45 Billion Euro pledge at the Donor Conference was almost celebrated by every Gambian without prior knowledge about the loan component of the pledges offered to a country that is already overboard with unsustainable loan problems inherited from the past regime.
Ambassador Lajos in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Networ’s Lamin Sanyang at his office, said the pledges were in twofolds or two in one, a grant and a loan which makes a total of €1. 45 Billion Euros. He cleared the doubts of those who think that President Barrow has returned with bags full of money which he said was not the case as the pledges are a support to the country’s development plans within a period of 3 years. He added that a chunk of the pledges would come in the form of development projects.
“I think it is 50/50 or more than half of the pledge is a loan,” Ambassador Lajos said.
“It is left to The Gambia to take the grant and leave the loan,” he added.
Lajos, told The Fatu Network that the EU has committed €225 Million Euros to The Gambia in the period 2017–2020 while committing another €140 Million Euros at the Donor Conference. This means the EU’s full support to The Gambia is €365 Million Euros until 2020.
“These funds help us carry out our cooperation with The Gambia in collaboration with a number of different project partners,” he said.
The EU is active in a number of areas notably, rural development and agriculture, transport and road infrastructure, energy and environment, inclusive and sustainable growth and job creation, strengthening civil society and good governance, tackling the root causes of migration, peace and security, trade and competitiveness.
“Every thing we are doing is migration sensitive,” one EU delegate said.
This official told The Fatu Network that the EU gives priority to women in every project in The Gambia. He added that women are sometimes left behind in The Gambia.
Ambassador Lajos buttressed on the budgetary support that the (EU) Development Fund is providing to The Gambia Government which he said at times goes with conditions. He made reference to the release of political prisoners as an example of such conditions.
“It is possible that there will be a precondition of Anti Corruption Commission next year,” he said.
The EU Ambassador still on the budgetary support said they would continue to provide technical support to ensure that The Gambian authorities properly manage the funds. He explained that the EU funded projects were stopped in the past due to the bad human rights records of the former regime. He commended the new political climate under the Barrow Administration.
When asked whether they would do the same to stop funds should the new government falters, he answered in the affirmative.
“That is not a threat,” he laughs.
The EU is currently funding 18 projects in The Gambia from 2017–2020.
Babu Soli. You know why we are insolvent as a nation, don’t you. It is all those aircraft, RR, luxury homes and the lifestyle of Jammeh. Now, we don’t want more borrowing and we insist on fiscal responsibility moving forward to get us out of the mess Yahya left. In order to do this all hands must be on deck, including yours Babu. So lets all work together to build Gambia and stop the blame game. When its all said and done, we only have one country Gambia.
Dr Isatou Sarr,
Your hand is on deck, Bax’s, Bajaw’s, Lamin’s, Pjalo’s, Luntango Sunu Gan’s, mine and all those cumbersome on-line contributors; though from different angles/perspectives/outlook.
No, we aren’t insolvent because of Jammeh; we are insolvent because of an insolvent legacy he(Jammeh) inherited!
Are you admitting that Jammeh was too daft to fix the bad economy he inherited in 22 years. What does that tell you. You decide on the appropriate descriptive.
“…we are insolvent because of an insolvent legacy he(Jammeh) inherited!”
Possibly Babu; but the Evilness Devil taken it to the “vegetative level – inactive & laid in comma already”; with the Vultures soaring above in the kanilai Evildom skies, in the aprc bandwagon, pouncing on the bones, crumbs & leftover-droppings….?
Killer Devil Yaya turned into some amoeba-hydra shapes; dissolving itself into any shapes & forms in motions; with its infectious leeches tentacles inserted into all strata of the economy, loans, funds & grants alike in its locust modus operandi devouring everything along its path; not to mention other public & private owned properties & assets; even rounding up the business community in banditries, & anybody suspected of having hard currency in procession; robbing their hard-earned sweat in broad daylights; all that might be materials (arguably) but what about the innocent people murdered wilfully by yaya Devil & the glorious defenceless dignified ladies raped under the custody of “state laws by state agents, etc etc?”…
Please Babu, go talk to Mr Surahata Janneh; that’s the place you might provide your worth probably; if you are realistically committed to alienating & defending kanilai yaya Dracula….
Dr Isatou Sarr,
You are either absent minded, blind or just cumbersome to refuse the fact. Where were you in 1994 just before Jammeh flushed out the dysfunctional, corrupt Jawara administration?
Bajaw,
Your scribblings just remind me of the Pageant of Longer Poems. I read it in Form 4. You might have read it as well. Continue your scribblings! LOL.
Can’t remember, reading anything in that name, Babu…