JK'S New Year Gift To The Press: "Tip Taranga radio and The Standard newspaper are announced opened by GRTS. You may monitor GRTS news for details," My source hinted. JK is busy appeasing the nation after the collateral damage that he has inflicted on both the Standard and Taranaga. Ismaila Ceesay was forced into exile to settle in the UK, while Sheriff Bojang was rendered jobless for over a year. JK's relationship with the press is like that of cat and mouse. Let wait and see who will be his next victim in his crusade to end press freedom.
The opening of the Taranga and Standard Newspaper was part of the European Union Article 8, 17 Point Demands, which Jammeh had earlier rubbishes as an attempt to install a puppet government in Banjul. Slowly, but the surely, the mighty EU would accomplish its agenda--by ensuring that the regime in Banjul embarks on governance reform. Jammeh cannot rule the Gambia in isolation. He needs that EU money, he often calls "Chicken Change money" to run his government.
As we speak, the health sector is in complete tatters. There are no drugs in our health facilities across the country. Salaries for Civil Servants are being delayed largely due to lack of funds to pay workers.
Take a look at the Energy sector, Nawec is unable to provide electricity for the past couple of weeks. The reason being; they said there is no petrol in the country. Nawec is waiting for petrol to come from overseas to service the dead industry.
Muhammed Bazzi told the Gambian nation when he invested into this very weak sector that the emergence of his power company would further stabilize the energy crisis in the country. Guess what we are witnessing today? Power supply is at its lowest ebb in the Gambia.
The Gambia needs a liberalized economy--free of government or Jammeh's manipulation. The economy should not be dominated by few Jammeh close buddies. In the absence of a liberalized economy, there wouldn't be any competition. Liberalized the Gambian economy for heaven sake. Let genuine investors invest and more jobs be created in this onetime viable sector.