Editor,

Upon reading of purported poor performance of Gambian petroleum students in Taipei, I took it upon myself to put the records straight.

It is very unprofessional and unethical to report false information meant to tarnish the image of innocent people. As I interacted with these students for years, I think it will be unfair for me to sit down and watch people say things that are not true about them.

I came to know most of their parents and I am 100% convinced that they are a mixture of all tribes in The Gambia. If a daughter of the former PPP regime is among the students selected then that will be my first point of argument that it cut across party lines.

The niece of Omar Jallow (OJ) is also among the students, like wise the daughter of a carpentry workshop owner. One of the students mum is a petty trader while another's father is a teacher. Some of them their parents are not even working with the government.

Their performance I can bet my life that all the students are performing to the best of their ability. In 2006 academic year, all the first 15 students at the National Taipei University of Science and Technology came from the Gambian petroleum students.

If they are not performing what miracle did they use to get such excellent results? This group of students were all awarded with certificates and cash prices, highest being NT50,000. Another Gambian student in a different university also got the best student award of NT10,000. I will not say that none of them has ever failed a course but I can safely say that all Gambian students are doing their best both academically and discipline wise to keep the Gambian flag high in Taiwan.

I would be very much happy if we can desist from making allegations that will only tarnish the image of our beloved country. We should not use politics as a yardstick to judge things but we have to be objective in whatever we say or write so that we will not mislead the people.

Ismaila Sanneh

ismuad15@hotmail.com