The biggest noise in The Gambia is always been generated through fanfare and *SENSELESS CELEBRATIONS* on every front of our national life. The genesis of this behavior has its roots in the hierarchical mentality of elite classism. It is as old as Gambia itself. But it’s time to break away from this practice because all it does is to show poor peasants and the under privileged their place” in society.
The bourgeoise wants us to believe they have delivered any tangible services to us that we have to gather and listen to them tell us what they have done for us and what they intend to do for us. One thing that never get mentioned is what *WE HAVE DONE FOR THEM*. That our monies and resources have elevated their social status (whether fairly or not) and their general wellbeing is as immaterial to them as the wellbeing and happiness of the citizenry. My people remember this: they want to be celebrated as the heroes, not the victories and achievements of our nation. That’s the reason they block the free flow of traffic and bring the country to a standstill. They spend millions of Dalasis on these non-celebrations to massage their ego and manifest their power over we the people of The Gambia. I ask you these two questions to prove my points:
1) What will we gain from “celebrating” the next Independence Day that is billed to cost the tax payer 10.000 000 Dalasis (Ten Million Dalasis)?
2) What do sick patients in the hospitals have to loose who could neither pay for hospital beds no lifesaving medications? These are our brothers and sisters who get sick and go to the newspapers to get help for overseas treatment. Or the farmer whose children will be kicked out of school because s/he can’t afford to pay school bills but must pay all manner of taxes to the state?
The celebrations and ceremonies most often than not, lack any substance in content and context. Match passes by school children and the various security institutions, whilst the ~dignitaries~ sit under the shade, is what Independence has come to mean. Some of those forced to stand under the burning sun collapse from dehydration and malaria.
We have been celebrating independence without being independent for 52 years and still counting. Isn’t that madness? Our debts keep on skyrocketing leading to inflation and price instabilities. And we think we are independent. Better still, we are made to believe we are free and independent. What a folly!
The list of days on which our governments have been wasting our money are as follows:
1) Independence Day
2) July 22nd
3) Adama’s victory celebration
And soon to be……
4)Adama’s swearing-in day.
The above list is not exhaustive as the occasions that “warrant” wastage of public funds are many to numerate.
The rulers, both past and present have wreaked havoc on us. And we the Gambian people are equally complicit in the crimes our governments visit on us; for we are not known to be a nation of men and women of stance takers.
A day like Independence Day should be celebrated on sober reflections on what Independence means, how we are going to attain independence and the various necessary discourses that should pave the way to liberty, dignity and prosperity for each and every Gambian.
_freedom and liberation series_
*Da One*
