The spoils of tourism from India

PERHAPS one need to be strong and healthy to live in Nainital, considering the settlement is patched on valleys.

Almost on daily basis, the labourers mainly from Nepal and China, I was told carry heavy loads of sacks on their shoulders from one place to the other. First time visitors to this region would marvel at the speed at which some of these labourers diligently work all day long. But that was the way things were suppose to be, after all, we have to work for daily bread.

Some of the hustlers in Nainital had been told by others about that the settlement was awash with a lots of opportunities. And it was not surprising when I was told there was a large number of Tibetans in the town. In fact, at the main tourist market, a banner read as thus: 'Free Tibet movement' .

We were told Tibet and Nepal were just a stone throw away from Nainital,which explains why there were pockets of labourers from these states. They looked old, yet I don't why my attention was drawn on them, may be it has do with their determination to eke out a living and send some money to their families back home.

A stroll at the food market once again offered me the unique opportunity to witness how the locals were coping in these bankrupt times. Fresh vegetables were displayed at various stalls, as usual the women were everywhere, selling, others who were housewives were busy haggling over prices. Considering the topography of the area, I thought there was no place for agriculture in Nainital. I was wrong.

According to tour operator, Ajay Bhalla more than sixteen thousand tourists visit Nainital every year. The peak season is April during which most of the town is covered with snow.

Those who travel to Nainital would perhaps not wrap up their stories without mentioning the legendary Naini lake or the horse riding exercise, and most importantly the lovers nest overlooking the township.

Due to illhealth and old age, I met a tourist at Priya in Delhi. ' I have heard, read books and watch documentaries on Nainital but I'm afraid I may never go to Nainital, my problem is climbing'

Not only her, some of my colleagues had some problems moving up and down the town, if you have money you better think of spending it wisely, otherwise the taxi drivers may rob you in the name of sight seeing. If you're planning to go to Nainital by bus; be prepared to be sit for at least ten hours from Delhi - 310km to Nainital.

Where are the Jobs?

THOSE who think that having series of certificates is a visa for getting a good job don't know what is happening nowadays.

In December 2008, I was assigned to do a feature on some of the achievements and challenges recorded by the Finance department during the course of the year. This programme was part of a traditional programme which the national broadcaster has been doing for so many years.

At one of the banks located on Kairaba Avenue ( which is undoubtedly Gambia's wall street) one senior official told me the dramatic changes that have been recorded in recent years. While my story angle was on institutional achievements, this man dragged me into his personal story. At some points, I got nervy because our news editor was crazy about adhering to the conventional style of reporters writing a three or five minute Tv feature. I attempted to stop my interviewee, but I could not help but take his sound bite: ' Personally, I think things have changed for me, I remember in those days it was easy to get a job even with bad 'O or A' levels but now things have changed.'

Armed with two diploma certificates, a first degree Plus an MBA, this man told me it took him close to two years before he could get employment. Students in high school are getting more and more ambitious about the prospects of seeking employment, unlike in the early 1970s, coming down to the 1990s it was unthinkable to see a high school graduate in The Gambia running for security or receptionist jobs. Nowadays, the situation has drastically changed, not only are high school graduates getting frustrated, some of them are not even thinking of going to university because its a waste of time.

Even with your first degree, chief executive officers or managing directors won't give you a job, because you are raw, untested, and as a matter of fact, you have to accumulate enough experience to be counted. Crazy world isn't it?

A new trend has also emerged, perhaps you already know about: some people are now going for multiple degree, say double master degrees, and a PhD. Despite all this, some of these people may never be employed, or even if they are absorbed into the system, some managing directors may not be comfortable working with 'sharp' intellectuals.

If you think that getting employment in The Gambia is getting more difficult and complicated, come with me to India. Post graduate journalism students are facing torrid times running up down for employment. Charu Ratnu who is in her early twenties told me that a number of media houses have turned her down when she applied for internship. 'Its a big problem for some of us, even if you don't have experience some media houses won't take you even if you have good results' said Charu.

Infact here in Delhi, a local newspaper recently published a story about an MBA graduate who took her own life when she failed to get a job. In the U.K and elsewhere in Europe a number of friends or former colleagues have written to me that they have lost their jobs.

It is not how much you know, or what you have, I suspect you need to be lucky and smart to get a good job. The other thing is that before leaving your job, think twice otherwise the job you are abandoning may soon be occupied by your own friend.

Even if the salary is bad, just hang on things may improve in the years to come, half a loaf of bread is better than none.

INDIANS DISPLAYED THEIR COLOURS

Images taken on Wednesday 11th March 2009

THE street leading to Ber Serai, Munikra and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) south of New Delhi was virtually empty on Wednesday morning, save for few auto rickshaws the traffic was dry. Hundreds of youths had converged on Ganga hostel in JNU, as part of celebrations marking the holi festival of colours.

Amid the political, economic and security challenges facing the Indian sub continent, the Indian youths did not allow frustrations to spoil their day. While a lot of young people danced to the sweet tunes coming from the music provided JNU students, others were busy gulping the local ‘bangka’ drink. When I asked some of the youths how the celebrations started, some of them told me that was not quite important. ‘ Lets dance…’ one man told me as he hurriedly walked his way in the crowd of dancers chanting ‘ happy holi .. happy holi ...

The likes of Marian from Spain who was a guest lecturer at JNU joined the crowd

Indian have been marking the holi festival centuries ago, Sayed Salahiddin a post graduate student at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication said the festival offers the people the unique to reunite. On this occasion, people who were not in talking terms would reunite and forget about the past. Because globalization has taken over norms and values, some young Indians believe the holi festival has taken a new dimension. ‘Some of our elders believe the whole holi festival has been diluted, things have changed drastically’ said student at Delhi University.

Some lecturers at JNU went further to throw a small reception

By and large, hundreds of youths else where in Mumbai also took to streets chanting ‘ holi, holi’, with the Kasab trial, and the security of the city after the 26/11 attacks Mumbairians were not dampened about is going to happen. ‘We want the terrorist to know that we are happy, we cannot make us sad’ said youth from Mumbai.

Charu Ratnu from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication said one of the most significant issues about the holi festival is reconciliation. And for her the fact people who had grudges against each other do mend mences on holis, the event is significant.

Whether the festival has succeeded in reuniting the people over the years is another subject for a debate, one thing is certain, Indians have different colours, too bad if you pass judgment.

My class mate Jesus Hector Betancourt also had a good time on Wednesday.

Is this Fulabantang?

Personal essays from followers

IS THIS FULABANTANG?

He's now living in the urban areas, like many young people in The Gambia,he went to the city in search of education. . After gaining employment, Dums as some of his friends call him , decided to stay in the city with the hope that one day he will get a lot of money, get rich so that he can help his family. As the story goes, Dums had to go through tough times before he could make ends meet; an opportunity came in June 2008. The office he was working for, selected him to represent the organisation on avery important but sensitive assignment in East/ North Africa. Lucky him, he bought a compound and has started settling down in his new home with his wife and two children. On a recent visit to Fulabantang village, Dums is beginning to realise the absence of few people who were never afraid of speaking their minds, what was more worrying for him was the seed of discord planted among family members.

By Dumbuya Mballow Bannah

On 21st February 2009, I embarked on an impromptu visit to a village well known in the history of the Gambia and particularly Fulladu. From Barra to Laminkoto, I tore the highway for only three hours with my family on board. When I arrived Laminkoto viewing JanJang Bureh from a very close distance, yet a very far place. After few minutes, the ferry arrived and ferried us to the otherside for three minutes. My car ignition was greeted by Mondeh Jawo a fulla musician with ....Ndooo wellle yoooo ...yooooooooooooh yaa no fulaadu no yaaru yeesooooooo ndoooo wellidoooo. I was not myself and started suggesting to the company of VW Golf to move from Gear five to at least ten. Fulabantang in those days used to have stubborn children boys and girls always on the highway until the early hours of the morning. It seems this tradition is beginning to fade away, because the highway was empty when I went there.

what is also moving is, at least about ten compounds were with Solar Panels which means that the village has registered some positive developments. Even though, I arrived there 10pm, my presence was not felt despite the fact that I went there with a car. For me this is also an indication that the village youth are elevated to western life. I parked my car in our compound and hurriedly rushed to the village clinic to see the second childhood friend Abdoulie who was on duty.

There was no way I could have gone out with Abdoulie, there was no supervisor in the clinic so he needed to stay and take care of the patients otherwise he could loose his job. When I strolled along the village, I began to notice some dramatic changes in Fulabantang, even though there are positive developments, there are setbacks too.

In Fulabantang, a lot people would tell you about the existence of certain indigenous families called ( Galleh Gi choosan). Now, it seems something sinister is beginning to tear these families apart, a sign that is regarded as another form of disunity. But what struck most was the death of my father who was the not the kind of man who would keep quiet when things go wrong. My father was bold, someone who was always interested in mending fences among family members.

( PLEASE FOLLOW THE REST OF THE STORY IN OUR SUBSEQUENT POSTINGS)

Remember u can also share your story with us about events in your community. Send your pictures and essays to chiefbaldeh@yahoo.com

Development journalists mark Int'l Women's day

PARTICIPANTS undertaking the development journalism programme at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi on Sunday evening held a small but colourful reception as part of celebrations marking the International Women's Day.
The participants comprised journalists, public relation officers from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe said the event was among other things meant to reflect on the important role women play in our society. Most of the participants noted that it was the first time they celebrated the event outside their countries.

For Gayane Hakobyan said in her country Armenia the International Women's Day offers everyone the unique opportunity to renew their commitment to the cause of women. 'On this day, you will see people giving flowers to women to show how much they like them. In other words, it is another opportunity for men to get closer to their partners'

Like many others,Gayane said she was surprised about about the reception she received when she suggested to the participants to contribute hundred rupees each to throw a party as part of celebrations marking the event. 'The party was good I enjoyed it, it was completely different from the lectures on development journalism, I have learnt from the men'

Speaking at the reception, Pierre YS Sylva from The Gambia commended everyone for their interest in celebrating the event, adding that it was paradox when one look at it from another angle.


'While we are celebrating this day, a lot of women mainly from rural villages from around the World do not know or have the time to mark the day' Sylva underscored the important role women play in our society, and urged the participants to create more awareness to empower women.

Fazdlin Kamaruddin from Malaysia said she was not impressed with the Indian media coverage on the event. According to Fazdlin, the television channels failed to bring to the fore the importance of the International Women's Day. The Malaysian said what women want is to be treated equally.

Laloo Karuna from Mauritius said it was wrong to celebrate the event just for a day, pointing out that the day should be celebrated everyday to show the importance of women in the world. Like some of her colleagues the Tv journalist from MBC urged the media to play a proactive role in sensitising the people about the rights and responsiblities of women.

The event could not have come at a better time when Ravonji from Madagascar is celebrating twenty four years of marriage. ' I want to use this event to renew my love. I want to thank my wife for her patience and understanding.'

Chabby Barasa from Tanzania said the bottomline is that women have to work harder. 'Do they know what the day stand for?' Barasa urged the women not to curry favours and expect things to come on a silver plate just like that. The Tanzanian journalists observed that the International Women's Day has turned out to be an 'urban thing for the educated class', adding 'my grandmother in the village don't know about women's day.'


( WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? PLEASE WRITE TO ME.)

CLOSE ENCOUNTER

HARONA DRAMMEH, PROPRIETOR PARADISE FM RADIO

DESPITE the inherent challenges of traveling to Europe, get rich quick, build a house, buy a car or marry syndromes, a fraction of Gambian youths are of the opinion that there are a lot of opportunities waiting to be tapped. Where as in the past, Gambians had little or no interest in investing in the country; nowadays the trend is changing. For the first time in the history of the country, the Greater Banjul Area boasts of at least 6 radio stations. In this exclusive interview with the Chief Executive Officer of Mediamatic and Proprietor Paradise FM, Gambia’s newest radio station, (inaugurated in Jan 2009) Harona Drammeh gave us an insight into some of the places and issues that shaped him.

Ebrima Baldeh: Tell me about yourself; I mean how did it all started?

Harona Drammeh: It all began in the early 1990s when the first FM license was issued in The Gambia.Its proprietor George Christensen approached young Harona while he was attending Saint Augustine's High School. He told Harona he has a good voice can make a great radio personality...... this is how I got into the media business and loving it everyday..... 17yrs and counting!

What motivated to leave Radio 1FM to join GRTS was it for fame; or for the fact that you were going to be part of history being one of the pioneering staff of the country's only TV station?

Harona Drammeh: Infact I had such a hard time on the one hand joining GRTS and so easy on the other hand. The Head of News and Current Affairs then, Jainaba Nyang was pleading with me to join the TV where the then Director thought I was not of any value to the institution. It was not for the fame I had already made a name before the TV however not that many could put the name and the face together..... I love media; fame is the least I had on my mind when joining GRTS

Your programme Talking Point in those days was very interesting; you managed to interview so many topnotch Gambians whose success stories inspired today's generation of young Gambians. Where did you draw your inspiration from?

Harona Drammeh: Since TV was a novelty here we had to draw a lot of our inspiration from other well established media.... these included BBC and CNN for the most part. I also had the opportunity to travel and meeting many high profile journalists around the world. With youth mobilisation background i also thought of doing something for young people. There were many reasons and inspirations to design and continue conducting the Talking Point and i am glad it made the impact it did for many......Talking Point was inspired by the world itself!


The fact that your prgramme was famous; you robbed shoulders with diplomats, government officials: Virtually everybody. You had traveled with the President on reporting assignments overseas, did you at any point in time considered yourself; intelligent, smart and lucky?

Harona Drammeh: I don't believe in luck. Yes I must admit I may have been privileged in some areas due to my position, relation with some individuals and or professional ties. You see. I believe whatever I have received or achieved so far had been as a result of hardwork and not luck. I have a very high esteem of myself and I know I am smart and extremely intelligent. If you think I am overly exaggerating myself well then that's another topic of discussion.

Okay, I will take it; after all a Nigerian writer once said If the lizard that jumps from one oroko tree fell down, and nobody praise him, he will praise himself. (It’s a joke). Okay, now tell me was it easy for you to marry the woman of your choice; the one you have been praying to God give yo

Harona Drammeh: For some reason I hate talking about my family life in the public arena. You, when i married my first wife I was thinking that’s it for me for the rest of my life. Boy! Was I wrong?!In that area I think i have failed contrary to my believe that failure doesn’t exist.I am happy as i talk to you now with 4 beautiful children and i dont hold much regrets in my life

Aside from that, let’s talk about your visit to the United States, was it a mission fait accompli; What did you do there basically?

Harona Drammeh: The USA unleashed the Harona in me! I attended Wayne County Community College in Detroit, MI but it was not the College education that put the icing on the cake for me it was the country itself, the people, the lifestyle, the TV, the businesslike nature of every American I met. Yes, the USA made a very positive impact in my life! Mission accomplished! Oui oui cava!

When you left GRTS, you decided to open a restaurant (Fine wine and Dine) and eventually started mediamatic jobs. How and where did you get the funds to start such projects?

Harona Drammeh: I had Fine, Wine and Dine before I left GRTS. Its set up was funded on monies I have received from the USA and came home with. As for Mediamatic you know we had very humble beginnings having started with only one computer which primarily funded by a family friend. www.mediamatic.gm


Knowing fully well that there are more than six radio stations within the Greater Banjul Area; all competing for a small market. Why did you squeeze yourself on the bandwagon? Do you think you will come up with something that other stations don't have?

Certainly and we are already succeeding in that arena. You must remember that radios survive from commercials and these generate revenue for the stations. With our background in multi media productions from Mediamatic you realise we already have clientele base that trust us and have been dealing with us over the years. Our style of programming is equally different from the rest. We have are currently broadcasting to over 50% of the country. So you see we are already ahead of the game even before we take off. We are not scared of the competition and nor do we think we are in a saturated market there still remains room for even more radios

The Gambia is yet to have a local radio station on the internet, what are you doing about this?

Harona Drammeh: Infact the Gambia has a radio online.... www.uniquefm.gmwe were working together on it but they beat us to it.We are currently working on satlinks for paradise and and a 24hrs streaming on the internet.Ebrima we are really moving on the technology bit.
Unique FM 101.7 Live on Radio & Internet
Source: http://www.uniquefm.gm/ Copyright copy; 2008 Unique FM - 101.7. All rights reserved. This site is operated from The Gambia under Gambia Law. For further information see our terms of use, privacy policies.
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What about programme content, are you seriously working on that because some of the local radio stations play lot music?
Harona Drammeh: We have since inception in January come up with different prog ideas. The knikiliba show is the first daily morning show on radio devoted to making people getting into the mood to go to work/school etc. We have educational progs in all the major different languages. A health weekly prog, The lawyer, youth show etc are some of our educational progs. Not to mention we also do music like other FM station.

During the tail end of 2008, you left the country briefly on a visit to some European countries. Can you tell us more about the outcome of this visit?

Harona Drammeh: The European mission was to acquire more digital solutions and hardware to expand signal strength inland. We are now covering more than 50% of the country. Meaning paradise FM goes farther than all other private radios in the country.

As a youth, and as individual who has traveled outside the country, what are your views on ‘Barcelona or basaka’ in short illegal migration to Spain?

Harona Drammeh: My view on anything illegal stays the same. Whether it is wealth or otherwise the best is to acquire it legally. Quite a number of our young people have died trying to travel to Europe illegally. I see no sense whatsoever why i should lose my life trying to go to a country i have no idea about, it beats common sense altogether! Generally speaking, the streets in Europe are not littered with gold as perceived by many of our young people. My advice - they stay in the country to make our own Europe too.
When are you going to marry a second wife?

Harona Drammeh: Ebrima, you dont put time to those things and besides we dont encourage public discuss of our private lives, you know that.


OK thank u for granting me time out of your busy schedule for ebrimagambia.blogspot.com

Harona Drammeh: Anytime! Best REGARDS!

NB: READERS MAY REACT OR COMMENT ON ITEMS PUBLISHED ON THE BLOG.

EBRIMA BALDEH chiefbaldeh@yahoo.com

Guinea Bissau: What next?

The democratically elected President of Guinea Bissau was assasinated by soldiers on Monday 2nd 2009
MONDAY’S 2nd March assassination of President Joao Bernardo Veira of Guinea Bissau is likely to make a lot of people wag their heads about what the future holds for the impoverish west African state. Like so many countries in Africa, Guinea Bissau development programmes are highly dependent on foreign aid. Of all the challenges facing the former Portuguese colony; it seems illegal drugs trade and internal political strife remains an enigma even for the common people in the country.

(Amilcar Cabral fought for Guinea Bissau liberation war)
Specter of the past
At a time when the international community is keenly monitoring events in Conakry following the death of General Lansana Conteh; the army led by Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara took advantage of the situation and assumed power. The situation in Bissau has once again brought to the fore the political vulnerabilities pervading its ugly head in the sub region. A pessimist might hasten to add: A snail may try but it cannot cast off its shell, but this may not be the case, for there is more to Guinea Bissau than war and civil strife. After all, was it not the country where the celebrated Pan Africanist Amilcar Cabral fought a guerilla war against Portuguese domination.

Casting one’s mind to the olden days; Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde had been claimed by Portugal since 1446 and was a major trading post for slaves during the 18th century. The interior was however not conquered until the latter half of the 19th century. While there has been resistance it was not until 1956 the first liberation movement was founded by Amilcar Cabral and Rafael Barbosa, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde ( PAIGC).

Like most political movements, the PAIGC faced a number of challenges and for the first major activity the organization embarked upon was a strike by dock workers in Bissau on August 3rd 1959. The colonial police violently repressed the strike and more than fifty people died, the incident became known as the Pijiguiti Massacre; according to historians this incident led to a major upswing of popular support for the PAIGC.
In 1961, the PAIGC entered ”Portugese” Guinea (today Guinea-Bissau) from neighbouring Guinea (today Guinea-Conakry) and began to arm and mobilise the peasants. The PAIGC was viewed as a model for revolutionary armies in many parts of the world, mainly because of it's political strategy during the war of liberation. It liberated one part of the country at the time, and helped villagers build schools and roads, provided medical services and promoted the farming of rice instead of groundnuts.

It also encouraged widespread political participation, and as the movement grew bigger more and more people got control over their own lives. From the very start, the people of Guinea-Bissau belived in what they were fighting for. It wasn't just about kicking the portugese out, but also to give the people the power back and make it a lasting revolution. In many villages, money was not used at all and the land was collectively owned. As the PAIGC´s numbers grew to about 10.000 militants, the portugese responded by increasing their troops to 25.000 plus 10.000 conscripted Africans. Despite this, within five years half of the country was in PAIGC hands.
As part of efforts to undermine the organizational structure of PAIGC, Portugal had tried to kill Amilcar Cabral for several years. After failing to capture him in 1970 the Portuguese started using agents within the PAIGC to remove Cabral. Together with a disgruntled former associate, agents assassinated Amilar Cabral on 20th January 1973, in Conakry. Portugal granted full independence to Guinea Bissau on 10th September 1974, after 11 and half years of armed conflict.

Luis Cabral, half brother of Amilcar Cabral became president. Following independence from Portugal, local soldiers that fought along with the Portuguese army against the PAIGC were slaughtered. A number of them escaped to Portugal or other African nations. In 1980, PAIGC admitted in its newspaper ‘No Pintcha’ ( dated 29 November 1980) that many were executed and buried in unmarked collective graves in the words of Cumera Portogole and Mansaba.
Once in power, the new PAIGC goverment had huge problems. The portugese had seen Guinea-Bissau as a little more than a cheap source of groundnuts and had done nothing to develop the country. 1 in 20 people could read, life expectancy was 35 years and 45% of children died before the age of five. In 1980 the president Luiz Cabral was overthrown in a bloodless coup while he was visiting Capo Verde. He fled to Portugal, and left his nice residence on the beatiful island of Bubaque in the Arquipé

João (Nino) Viera, also a PAIGC-man, took over and continued to follow the marxist path. Or at least, that's what they said. As many other ”marxists”, the leaders of the party talked a lot about the importance of solidarity and classless organization, but instead became a ruling class with endless power and privileges. In 1986, following a serious coup attempt the previous year, the goverment officially completely reversed its policies, devalued the currency and began privatizing the land. The World Bank and the IMF were involved in this, off course. Things quickly worsened for the people of Guinea-Bissau, who once again were getting exploited by European and American economic interests

Viera survived three coup attempts, while keeping the PAIGC in power. Guinea-Bissau remained extremely poor and, in 1997, teachers, health workers and other state employees went on strike to protest about, among other things, foreign aid money gone ”missing” in the hands of the goverment.On 6 june 1998, General Ansumane Mane, the head of the army, allegedly got sacked for providing the MFDC (Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques de Casamance), the separatist rebel group in neighbouring Senegal, with arms. The following day, he took a majority of the countrys soldiers with him and declared war on the goverment. They were called Junta Militar and were backed up by the MFDC and most of the people of Guinea-Bissau who were fed up with the corrupt politicians.

General Ansumana Manneh was also killed by soldiers

Due to the geographical proximity of these nations, and in the spirit of helping one neighbor when his house is on fire; the Gambian President Yahya AJJ Jammeh invited Manneh and Veira to Bamjul with a view to settling the stalemate. The symbolic handshake between Manneh and Veira spoke volumes about the relationship that exists between Banjul and Veira. Not only were they comrade-in-arms, the two leaders were reportedly bosom friends while serving in the Bissau Army.
The meeting in Banjul and the subsequent one in Abuja provided a unique opportunity for General Manneh to occupy an instrumental position in the Veira administration, and the guns were silent for some time. And it all re-started again, when the seed of discord that seems to be haunting the county paved the way for another war, this time Ansumana Manneh was killed in November 1999.

In the 2005 Presidential election, Veira disclosed his intention to challenge the incumbent President Koumba Yalla, the BBC reporter asked Veira why he was interested in assuming power again. Speaking through an interpreter, Veira said there are some important developments that he needed to accomplish.

In Bissau, power struggle and lack of unity are some of the biggest challenges the authorities are yet to overcome. Despite the size of her country, The Gambia has played an important role in the socio-economic development of Bissau. In the count down to the local government elections in November 2008, 16 political parties in Bissau took part in an international workshop convened by His Excellency the President Professor Yahya AJJ Jammeh. The meeting gave the political parties a rare opportunity to discuss the teething problems facing their country and suggested various means of addressing them.
At a time when many people thought Bissau Guineans have now put the past behind them, the assassination of President Veira has again raised doubts: where is the country heading to?
The economy

Political instability has had a negative impact on the country's economy

A country that has a chequered history of political instability can hardly register any meaningful progress; according to the 2008 Human development Index,Guinea Bissau occupies the 175 position out 177 countries. In 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999. Agricultural production is estimated to have fallen by 17% during the conflict, and the civil war led to a 28% overall drop in GDP in 1998. Cashew nut output, the main export crop, declined in 1998 by an estimated 30%. World cashew prices dropped by more than 50% in 2000, compounding the economic devastation caused by the conflict. Real GDP has steadily grown at an average of 2.3% from 2003 onwards.

Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Under the government’s post-conflict economic and financial program, implemented with IMF and World Bank input, real GDP recovered in 1999 by almost 8%. In December 2000 Guinea-Bissau qualified for almost $800 million in debt-service relief under the first phase of the enhanced
(Sources: wikipedia, Facts from Lonely Planet "West Africa" and Gérard Chaliand "Lutte armée en Afrique" (Armed struggle in Africa)

Love is expensive... isn't it

In Twelve Night, Shakespeare remarked that if music be the play of love; play on give me excess of it. But I suspect love is a mirage; on the other hand, it is meant to keep us awake, dream and laugh that is good. Often times, you hear lovers telling each other ‘I love you’; one thing that keep lurking in our mind is the content of that short but lucid statement.

While some of us have been one way or the other hard hit by a love tsunami; we re-opened our hearts again knowing fully well that we have to be part of the establishment in order to be counted. But that’s not fair: How can we keep falling in love, suffer series of disappointment, pick up again and end up saying – alas, I have found real love and this is the love I have never had.

In those days in the village, love to us meant writing on the walls; Sukai love Buba, Adama love Pateh etc. Full of energy, we would group ourselves, then the boys will choose the girls they love and someone will announce it before the girls. Our understandings of love were more or less like playing hide and seek. It was not until during our adolescent that we started to experience love is an entrapment; something that drive you crazy.

When you are in love; it is just like someone has put a mask in front of your face; we do not want to be hear negative stories emanating from the girl or boy we cherish. No wonder Toni Morrison said in her book, Love; you open your legs instead of heart. Where all is said and nothing is understood.

If love was not real and expensive why was the Taj Mahal in India build? If love was not real why do thousands of people from all over the world converge on Agra on daily basis to just to see the house which is tagged as one of the Seven Wonders of the World? If you have never been to Agra; let me tell you more about the symbol of love and what it means to different people.

The road was rather long and bumpy; in some instances we would pass some little kids who perhaps were wondering where on earth we came from, only that they did not have the chance to talk to us for our bus was moving faster. I was still trying to figure why we had to go to Agra and not Mumbai which is by far one of the most important places in India (that is if you want to know how Mumbairians are coping after the 26/11 attack). Guess what do you know why we could not go to Mumbai? Mumbai was very expensive and the security situation there was rather stiff period.

What was not clearly stated was the fact that why we were hell-bent on traveling to Agra; was it our handlers who wanted us to learn about the story of love and harmony. I suspect that the issue has to do with what we sometimes experience in our loose moments; when we quarrel with our love ones, those arrogance tendencies we exhibit: ‘Look I have no time for her’ when deep inside you, you know that’s not true.

Away from the monotone lectures, and sometimes abstract issues we, so often talked about in class, this journey was meant to be a special one. Something that should change the way we think about love and the shallow concept some of us have about love; that love is all about presenting Vals, writing on face book, or playing hush-hush games. And there we joined hundreds of pilgrims most of whom traveled with their wives, children and friends. A friend from the United Kingdom commented: ‘For me the Taj Mahal is a spiritual retreat; I’m here to ponder about love and what I can do to improve my love life’.

Like many people facing series of love problems, here was a young and reticent man who could not swallow his cough just because he doesn’t want to offend others; but he had to spit out when I saw him gazing fixedly at the beautiful pieces of gold and silver that were plastered all over the Taj – giving it a befitting colour.

The Taj Mahal was built by a Mongul emperor called Sahah Jahan; it was build in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Actually, Jahan was born in 1592, while Mahal was born in 1593, they got married in 1612 and had seven children. In 1628 Shah Jahan became the Mongul Emperor. Three years later his beloved wife died shortly after childbirth. Not only was he disoriented by the death of his wife but Jahan became disillusioned about life and lived in hibernation. In 1632 Sahah Jahan began the project of building a mausoleum or tomb for his wife, Taj Mahal.

The Taj is located on the banks of the Yamuna River. It took twenty-two years to complete with an estimated twenty thousand workers. The building is surrounded by four 138 ft. minarets and sits on a 315 ft. square marble platform.

Lets stop thinking about the Taj and asked ourselves why did Sahah Jahan constructed this building for his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal when he (Jahan) had many wives at that time?