Is there no partner for the poor?

Lovelines

I have a friend from the same village. He is a businessman I live  and work with  him, and  he is my boss. He often help me to solve my problems financially, while he always take any of my girlfriends that I bring home or introduce to him because he has money. He is fond of telling me that "girls are for money."  Does this  act and statement means that there is no love for the poor?

Sutu

Not that there is no partner or sincere love for the poor, it is just a coincidence that  the people you loved always end up with your friend because you are staying with him and financially stronger . But looking at things carefully, I think you are always having wrong girlfriends that are in love for money. meaning ‘money for hand,  In brief your friend is not trustworthy. He should not use his position as an advantage over you. As a good friend tell him that you are not happy with  his style. Better still to avoid problems with him, if you know that you can stand on your own, rent an apartment for yourself. But if you cannot, then  stop takning your girlfriend home or introducing them to him. I assure you that  if you get a lady that really love you, she will not consider your friend as human but a traitor and betrayal. Good luck!


She wants me to be serious

Loveline

I am 24 dating a girll of 23.  My girll friend wants me to get serious about her while she is not serious with  me. She often complains about girls visiting and calling me, whilst men do visit and call her anytime. Please tell me if she loves me because I give her my heart 100%.  What can I do?

Lamou

The two of you need  time to sit down and talk to each other about what you like and dislike. Doing that , you will be able to understand and respect each other. There is nothing both of you can do to avoid friends’ calls or visits but it all  depends on the level of maturity between the  two of you. Good luck!

We have sworn to an oath

Lovelines

I am in love with a lady who equally  loved me. We are now confronted by a problem from the girl’s mother because she want her to get marry to a guy she was engaged with  before we met. However both of them do not love each  where as the girl and I have both sworn to an oath to marry each other and I am ready to marry her.

Jumbulu

Although they always say love is blind. Both of you should have thought of what you might encounter in future before you swore to an oath. I will encourage you for the betterment of the two of you that you should revoke this oath before it is too late. If Allah ordained it that you will become husband and wife in future no one can change it but if he said no your oath couldn’t say yes. So think, and think do not let emotion over ride your feelings. Good luck!


Relationship with a lot of quarrels

Lovelines

Our relationship is two years old with a lot of quarrels. I am no longer having any feeling for him. I want us to be ordinary friends but he wont let me be. He said he still loves me when he did not. For the past two years I was trying to make the relation work.

Majula

Such is life, if you know that you really have nothing to do with him because of the frequent quarrels in the relation, then stop going to his house and never  call or text him. At the same time stop receiving his call and don’t reply to his text any more. More so, it is you that will control yourself before him, no one will do it for you. So you are entitle to your personal decision on this matter. Good luck!

He always evade marriage discussion

Lovelines

I have been dating a guy for over four years but he never discussed marriage with me. I am the one that always ask or bring up marriage issue between us and each time I brought up the topic, he will surely evade the discussion. Now I am confused, I do not know if I should leave him or not. I am 25 and he is 27.

Nyama

Obviously he is not ready to marry as at now. There might be a lot of things going on in his mind that is keeping him away from marriage that you do not know. It is not only for you to bring up the issue but ask him the reason why he does not want to marry, probably you might find his reason genuine. So if you know that your utmost now is wedding or marriage, you have your life to live. So make a choice. By the way I also think that it is better that two of you plan strongly before marriage for  a better tomorrow. So try not to be confused. Good luck!

Her husband read my text message

Lovelines

There is a girl that loves me since we were in primary school up to secondary school level. She got pregnant after our WAEC examination and later married. To my amazement this girl still love me. She sometimes call and text me, but I never reply. After series of complaints from her I started to reply to her text messages and calls. Unfortunately her husband read my last text to her and he called me for a discussion, which was centered on my past and present relations with the lady. I don’t know what to do before her husband will take next action since the girl will not stop calling or texting me despitethe fact that iam not calling her.

Alieu

I will encourage you to stop endangering your life. Take it or you leave it, this girl is married no matter how strong love she has for you try as much as possible to keep away unless you do not value your life. Since her husband has played maturity by inviting you for a dialogue it is better you keep a distance. Tell the girl that it is not your intention to be an intruder or bring sorrow to a steady and peaceful family. It is your right, if you want to have your dignity, to tell her husband that you have nothing to do with his wife and he should let bygone be a bygone. So from this moment stop calling her or text her. Look elsewhere if you need a wife or someone to date. Someone with husband will put you in a problem. A word is enough for a wise man. Good luck!

I don’t understand my brother’s babe

Lovelines

I have a brother that love and care for me so much. He always send me credits in order to remain in touch with him. But his girlfriend thinks am dating her boy, she texts me all the time asking the same question despite telling her that he is just a brother. The sad story is that they now have a problem after our last text.

Nyara

The problem is that the lady might not know the extent of relationship between you too. But since you have explained to her on different occasions she supposed to have listened to you and at least believe you for once. But if it is true that there is nothing between two of you try and invite the two together and settle the matter between them. Doing this her mind will be at rest and believe you. Good luck!

I can’t grant his request

Lovelines

I love my boyfriend and I always do everything he request for him. But one thing I do not  accept having affair with him.

What should I do?

Ruth

You have the right to stick to your word. If he loves you as you do love him, he will wait for you till the time you are ready but if he can’t, tell him to look elsewhere if your life and pride is precious to you. Good luck!


How can I quit?

Lovelines

I am 25 and she is 20. Our relationship is almost 3-year. She always sends text to me to express her concern and love for me. Surprisingly I discovered that she is dating another guy that I know. I love her too but now I don’t know how to quit the relation.

Badara

You will be able to quit the relation if you have choice. At the same time determination matters most, because you know what is good for you and what you want from your girlfriend. So decide if really you want to say goodbye to her or you just want to stress her. If really to quit, tell her it is over and stop visiting, calling or texting her and if she  call do not answer her. Good luck!

She tunes him like a radio

Lovelines

My boyfriend is dating another girl, this girl always tune him like a radio. She can call it quit today and tomorrow they will start again. As at now they have broken up but I know sooner or later she will come back again.

Fatou

This is not your  problem since you are ready to continue sharing him with her. If you want him to forget this girl try as much as possible to be more romantic make sure that what the other girl is doing for him you are able to do more than that. Before you know it he will forget her finally. Good luck!

I am pregnant for a respectable boy

Lovelines

I am in love with a respectable gentle boy since the past three years. This boy loves me too much; I am very welcome in his family. His mum can’t do without calling me. But sooner than I thought early this year I discovered that I am pregnant for him. Now I keep my examination free, nobody in the family knows that I am 7-month pregnant except my friends and boyfriend. I have decided to run away to go and stay with a friend till I deliver the baby when I will come back home. The reason for this decision is that if my dad knows about it he will send me away from the house forever.

Nyantcho

I am very surprised with  your foolish decision. If you think  running to your friend will solve the  problem because your father will send you away from his house when he discover that you are pregnant, then, what about when you deliver the child and come back home do you think he will be happy with you and welcome you with open hands to the house? I hope you are not thinking of committing infanticide or baby dumping. If it is true that your so called ‘respectable gentle boy’ love you, why can’t he talk to her mother who can’t do without calling you about what has happened between you ? I want you to discuss it with your boyfriend so that he will talk to his mother who will go and meet your parents about the issue. If you are a good child. It can happen to anyone who is playing the game. This is  why  anybody who  is not ready should not involve. However, if I know your parents I would blame them for not being able to know that a child staying under their roof is 7-month pregnant without their knowledge up t
o date. So do not run a way from home, but try as much as possible to discuss this  predicament with your boyfriend’s mother or your parents, mostly your mother with immediate effect. Good luck!

My cousin raped me I am dying in silence!

Lovelines

Just a month back, my cousin raped me before he travelled to Europe. Since he came back from Europe ,I do not have rest of mind and peace. I do not know what to do anymore because he is telling me that he loves me. With all he that he   put me through the embarrassment and the indelible scar he left on my heart, I don’t love him and I will never love him for anything. He went to my boyfriend and told him to back off from me. I am confused because I told my mum about this unexpected incidence but she thought i am lying without her doing anything to find out the truth. This is because the guy is my maternal cousin. I am dying in silence!

(Name withheld)

This is a serious matter that you really have to  explain how it happened, to your parents not only your mother. If you are really sure of this, tell your parents to call the two of you to  sit together and repeat all what you might have told your mother and how everything happened. It is then you will be able to prove your case. I know that the elders will apply equity and justice on the matter when they find out the truth unless they want to be injustice. However, there are a lot of questions for you to answer on this issue. But to solve this problem you still need to talk to your parents. Anyhow if your mother who supposed to be your confidant cannot believe you, then I must say that there is something fishy going on.  For the time being try to take record of everything going on between you, your cousin, boyfriend and your mother.  But I do not want to go deep because when it happened there must be someone who  knows about it apart from telling your mother. Good luck!

Editor,

Rumours are rife about possible increment of fares of commercial vehicles.

Although this has not been confirmed, its possibility is quite a disturbing reality. On the surface, there is some excuse to point at for this increment, given the situation of energy availability at the international level. But it is important to note that it is not all increment in fuel prices that genuinely justify a parallel increase in fares.

The transport union though seems to be at liberty to take decisions like this, but they ought to know that the money they make out of such increment will remain meaningless for as long as the people’s plight gets worsen as a result of their actions.

This is what is likely to happen. The people that will suffer are the majority poor who are constantly looking for their daily bread, who live from hand to mouth.                                                                                       

Lamin Jobe
 
Kanifing

Editor,

Allow me space to comment on the article written by Magaye Baye Ceesay namely "The young warriors - the Scorpions" On my opinion the boys have themselves to blame for their very poor performance really. As professionals, they should know that they should play the ball and focus on the ball only and not what the referee is doing.

Their performance that night was very poor compared to their performance against Algeria and Senegal in Gambia. We watched the whole match. How can they beat Algeria when every second pass they made goes to the opponent? Yes, the referee was a disaster so was their performance that night. Watch the match a second time, you will see.

Omar Gibba

Zakat

Zakat is a fundamental pillar of Islam.  It is important to remind wealthy Muslims of the significance of this Pillar, which requires them to give out a portion of their wealth to Allah.

Zakat is an important pillar that is ordained by Allah.  It is a way of purifying one’s wealth and also to secure it.  It is an obligation which has to be performed by all Muslims.

It has been mentioned 82 times in the Quran.  The reason why Zakat is obligatory is given in both the Quran and the hadith.  It is said that it started in the early days of Islam in Mecca.  But during that time the amount of wealth to be given out was not limited.  People just gave out Zakat as they wished.  A large number of scholars agreed that a regulation was made as to how much one should give out for Zakat.

This regulation is called Nisab.  The Quran however clearly states the authority given to the Prophet by Allah, in order to collect Zakat from his people.

Sura Tawba V.103-105 states: of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them, and pray on their behalf, verily their prayers are a source of security for them: and Allah is one who heareth and knoweth.  Know they not that Allah doth accept repentance from this votaries and receives their gifts of charity, and that Allah is verily he, the oft-returning, most merciful? And say: work (righteousness) soon will Allah observe your work and this messenger, and the believers.  Soon will ye be brought back to the knower of what is hidden and what is open.

Then will he show you the truth of all that they did.

Zakat is again mentioned in Sura Nur V.56: So establish regular prayer and give Zakat and obey the messenger.  That ye may receive mercy.

In the hadith the Prophet (SAWs) revealed that those followers of Allah who pray five times, keep the fast in the month of Ramadan, give out Zakat, and avoid any thing Allah pro-hibits, will have the gates of heaven opened for them when they die.

The Prophet also stressed that Zakat should be given out so that one’s wealth can be purified and secured.

Give out alms to get away from sickness is stated in the hadith.  So therefore, it is necessary for us to give out alms make supplications so that we can be saved from evil and santa.

Those entitled to Zakat would definitely be the heedy.  Sura Tanba v.60 states: Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds): for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth): for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah: and for the way farer: (Thus it is) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of know ledge and wisdom.

So many scholars are convinced that the need for Zakat is to assist the poor man’s problems.

Consequently, Zakat should not be sent to distant places while those needy and close to you are suffering.  Some even say that the Zakat should not be taken or sent more than 80 kms away from one’s residence, except the needy are not in your area.

In many Muslim countries, you have what are called Zakat houses, and they are places where Zakats are taken to. The officers in charge of these houses would then distribute the gifts to the poor and the needy.

The Gambia being a small country, people tend to know each other.  Consequently, it is very easy for the wealthy, the well to do, to identify the needy and the poor and give them their Zakat.

All Muslims should pay Zakat, taking into consideration that whatever you have is from Allah, and he is capable of taking it from you at anytime and in anyway.

Sura Tauba v.34-35.. And there are those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: anounce into them a most grievous chastisementy.  On the day when it will be heated in the fire of hell, and with it will be Branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, this is the (treasure) which ye hoarded for your selves taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then the (treasures) ye hoarded.

The Almighty wants Zakat to be  given out when healthy and strong as stated in Sura Munafiqun v.10. And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which we have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say, O my Lord!  Why didst thou not give me respite for a little while?  I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good “But to no avail will Allah grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come and Allah is well acquainted with (all) that ye do.”

President Jammeh has warned district chiefs, Alkalolu, governors and even secretaries of state to stand firmly in support and protection of poor farmers against exploitation by rice dealers and retailers or he would be forced to use his electric broom.

The president made these remarks on Monday, on day one of the “Dialogue with People’s tour’, in Kerewan, North Bank Region. He told the chiefs, Alkalolu, governors and secretaries of state to work towards preventing rice traders from exploiting the poor.

He declared that it should be the obligation of every Gambian, especially those in authority to take anyone to police for selling a bag of rice at D900.

“If anyone is selling a bag of rice at D900, take him to police because it is unlawful. I recently agreed with the major importers of rice into the country on the maximum price of a bag of rice to be at D800, which will start by June/July 2008.  Therefore, anyone selling a bag of rice at D1,000 should go to jail. In fact, from now against September 2008, government will make sure that the price of rice is stabilised,” he said.

Back to the land

President Jammeh stated that to ensure food self-sufficiency, Gambians must change their attitude and go back to the land.  According to him, since 1994 to date, he has been repeating this clarion call, but only to be disputed by certain people.

He highlighted the assistance from government to support back to the land call, inlcuding the provision of tractors on two occasions, which he said, were misused. “Since the first ones were not properly used, today we have another 500 tractors which are not  for free. This will help us to sustain them and there will be no free tractor services anymore”, he stressed.

The president informed the gathering that if his back to the land call was fully heeded, the country would have been saved from the current predicament.  “If the president is farming, what is the Alkalolu, the dhiefs, the governors and SoSs and even the ordinary Gambians waiting for,” he challenged, while calling on Gambians to change their attitude.

Fertilizer

On fertilizer, the Gambian leader told the farmers that government would never provide fertilizer for free, as this priviledge had been abused in the past, when farmers used to get free fertilizers, which were then sold at weekly markets and at the borders.  “If you buy it and know the cost of it, I don’t think you would sell it. But from now on, there shall be no free fertilizer for farmers”.

Youths and men

To the youths, President Jammeh urged them to desist from taking the illegal route to ‘Babylon’ and urged them to work towards national development.
 
He lashed out at the men folk for being carriers in the strive for a modern Gambia and saluted Gambian women for their patriotism, and he promised the women folk of the North Bank that he would purchase all their produce, which would end marketing constraints. This, he said, was in support of their strive and response to his call for back to the land.

Yankuba Touray, the secretary of state for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, amplified the key issues raised by President Jammeh, including his call for back to the land to attain food self-sufficiency.

According to him, this year, government would provide 250 tons of groundnut seeds to farmers in NBR, but he warned that anyone caught selling it would face the consequences. He then unveiled President Jammeh’s plan to introduce irrigation projects across the country.

Hon Mam Cherno Jallow, the NAM for Upper Niumi, saluted the president for his exemplary leadership and reassured him of their fullest support. Hon Jallow used the platform to appeal for a vehicle for Juffureh Police Station and announced his region’s full participation in the forthcoming Roots-Home Coming Festival.

Ousainou Fall, the APRC chairman in Central Baddibou, Alhaji Lamin Ceesay, the chairman of Kerewan Area Council, chief Fafanding Kinteh of Lower Baddibou, chief Jim Fatma Jobe of Jokadou, Aja Haddy Panneh of Njawara, Foday Drammeh, a youth mobiliser, Alhaji Mod Dibba of Salikenni, Ousman Faal, the APRC chairman for Central Baddibou, and Alhaji Jawo Drammeh, the APRC chairman for Upper Baddibou, all spoke at the meeting.

In a similar engagement, President Jammeh also held a meeting in Amdalye on Monday, after inspecting the Amdalye-Barra Road Project.

In the Kerewan meeting, the gathering witnessed the announcement of the defection of the NRP candidates for National Assembly and local government elections.

Hyperinflation and increasing insecurity have forced Somali businessmen to demand payment in US dollars, creating difficulties for ordinary people with limited access to the greenback, traders said.

"We are demanding payment in US dollars because it has become impossible to keep track of where the value of the Somali shilling will be from one hour to the next," Liban Yusuf, a businessman in Bosasso, said.

"Inflation is such that if a businessman sold goods for Somali shillings, half an hour later he stands to lose 30 to 40 percent," he added.

There was also the issue of security and where to store the Somali notes, given that the shilling was exchanging at 31,500 to the dollar, down from 15,000 a year ago.

"If you sell commodities worth $1,000 in Somali shillings, you will need containers to keep it," he said, because the highest denomination was only one thousand shillings.

According to traders in the capital, Mogadishu, and Bosasso, the commercial capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, the situation had been aggravated by demands that they pay taxes and fees in dollars.

"When I bring commodities into the country I have to pay the government in cash dollars or my goods will not leave the port," Abbas Mohamed Duale, spokesman for the business community in Mogadishu, said.

There was no immediate comment from the government.

Yahye Sheikh Amir, dean of economics at Mogadishu university, said the Somali currency had lost both value and credibility. "What is happening is that people are printing money on A4 paper in their homes and trying to exchange it for something that was bought with hard currency," he explained. "It is not sustainable."

The currency problems have pushed up the prices of basic commodities, including food.

There has been no legal printing of Somali currency since the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in the early 1990s. All the local currency in circulation is either printed in the country or imported by individual businessmen.

The problem is exacerbated by the lack of a properly functioning central bank to set monetary policy. As a result, Amir said, the "biggest losers are the very poor, especially the urban poor.

"In Mogadishu, an estimated 20 percent receive remittances," the professor said. "Add another 20 percent who live off those who receive money. The rest of the population will be out of luck with their livelihoods severely affected."

He urged the government to allow the re-circulation of old notes. "The only way this can be resolved is for the government to stop home-printing of currency and start using the Somali shilling."