The Gambia is cruising on a no-return path, having tasted the sweetness of progression. We can stop at nothing to thwart any attempt that aims to sabotage our unrelenting effort to taking our country to the level every good people envisage for their succeeding generation. So far, it has taken us just under fifteen years to register a development hundreds of years of colonialism patently denied us.

With the manifest inclination from the government of the day and its progressive-thinking backers, indications are that there is light at the tail end of the tunnel. The last thing the people of this country would expect, therefore, is for an institution with some colonial predisposition to take part in unmerited practices that contribute in holding back our development effort.

Revelations on the progress on the Barra-Amdallai road construction project are shocking and disappointing. Indeed, we can understand the feeling of the president when he expressed his utter dismay about the manner the contractors are dealing with the matter. The Gambia is far, far bigger than an individual. You can not hold to ransom the whole nation and expect to get away with it so easily.

When are some people going to get used to the feelings of self-esteem of this small but great nation? Isn't our sovereignty and territorial integrity enough to tell that we, as a nation, are good enough to determine what is good and what is bad for us? Or aren't we good enough to tell what represents our interest?

We had similar complaint from government about the road reconstruction project on the Westfield-Mandinaba Highway, some years back. There the contractors had wanted to take Gambians for a ride. And as if that was not enough of a mischief; we are confronted with yet another problem.

Three month ultimatum by the president is quite appropriate for the perpetrators. We hope people will understand the president as we do. Besides, he represents us as a nation. He embodies the hopes and aspirations of the one and half million Gambians that have entrusted their destiny in his hands. You can imagine how you would feel if some one stands in your way, if you were in the President's shoes.

We do hope that these and previews observations of his and other patriotic Gambians will serve enough warning for prospective contractors, be they foreign or local. The Gambia's interest is far more superior to any other entity.