E.S. Sisay, I want to start by telling you that you are my “DOM BYE.” My last name is Sisay too. So, I’m glad to receive your brilliant comment. Your comment is indeed the most challenging comment I have receive so far. It makes me feel good because I feel that I have my fellow Gambian who is concerned about the country and is willing to debate the important issues facing our country intelligently—based on evident and rationality—in an atmosphere of mutual respect for one another
There is no doubt that Yaya Jammeh is our legitimate elected president, but I don’t think he is our king. For that matter, he has to be criticized. For no single individual is smarter than our collective democracy. This is why I seized this opportunity to participate in strengthening our democracy. You are also doing the same thing and I commend you for that. However, the most important thing here is let neither you nor I assume to know the ultimate truth but neither of us is absolutely wrong either. Acceptance of one another’s ideas will make our country what we both want it to be. Never get satisfied with what the government is doing, for that will make the country stagnant, and you know we have a long way to go.
You did talk about most the projects Jammeh administration has embarked upon since he came to power. They all look indeed very good and necessary and it is hard for me to argue against them. But put at the back of your mind that government will always get money to construct buildings, roads, bridges, and buy vehicles and weapons, because it collects tax from the people or it can get grants and loans from some where else. However, the only way you can validly measure the development of a country under a particular administration is the difference in standard of living of the majority of people living in that country between the beginning of the administration and the time you making your judgment. If the standard of living of the majority of the people is higher at the time you making your judgment than the beginning of the administration then the policies of that particular administration is good. On the other hand, if the standard living of the majority of the people is lower at the time you making your judgment than the beginning of the administration then the policies of that administration have something wrong with it.
Now make your own personal judgment. Is the standard of living of the majority of the people living in The Gambia higher or lower in 1994 than in 2008? My personal judgment is that it is lower in 2008. My reasons are: 1 Food and clean drinking water are much more affordable and accessible in 1994 than in 2008. 2 Effective medicine and prescription drugs were much more affordable then than now. 3 Building materials and house rents were much more affordable then than now. 4 Rate of unemployment is much lower in 1994 than in 2008. 5 The percentage of students passing external examinations in primary and secondary schools was much higher in 1994 than in 2007. Paying bride price was much easier for young guys then than now. Life expectancy was even higher in 1994 than in 2008. Then what is the use of all the projects that the government has embarked upon since 1994. It doesn’t mean that we don’t need ttem, but they came far too early. Nonetheless I still agree with you that some of very few projects were essential such as; the T.V station, the University of the Gambia and the fishing project which were too small if they even exist. That’s the reason why I always emphasize that government spending should be regulated and prioritize if not the spending will be meaningless. This is exact what happen in Jammeh administration.
So Mr. Koroma, becareful with the kind economic policies you going to put in place in Sierra Leone. Don't just follow the foot steps of your host Yaya Jammeh. Bildings, roads, bridges, vehicles, and weapons only don't improve the standard of living of your people. You need a huge foreign currecy reserve in your central bank. If you have to spend, start by building factories first and get your people employed then you will have a good spring boarb for economic growth. Thank you on behalf of The Gambian people