Editor,

I have said earlier, in one of my articles published in your paper, that in a democratic state every good citizen is a concerned citizen, and therefore has the right to expound views and ideas pertaining to the state, which views and idea may either boost the economy or alleviate a certain hardship, if put into consideration.

Today, I am going to make a casual reference to the telephone companies operating in this country.  The game of chances in which these companies are engaged is not pertinent but rather controversial with the current intuition prevailing in this country.

The whole country, and not one person, contributes to the achievement of their goal.  It is therefore not fitting that the efforts of a whole people be given out as a reward to one lucky person.  

There is nothing that hurts more than watching a teenager appear on the TV saying I am the so and so millionaire and my so and so number is my lucky number, patati, patata, bla, bla, bla...  Some one who may not even know the value of a million dalasi!

If these companies really want to be seen as philanthropic, they should aim at satisfying and pleasing all their customers, country-wide.

The ten million dalasi, the cost of the beautiful brand new cars, the hajj tickets, etc, could be paid into government coffers to cover cost of customs duty on imported food item, such as rice, sugar etc.

This will enable the government to control the selling price of such imported items since nothing was paid on custom by the importer.  If prices on food commodities are controlled, every average Gambian will be able to purchase for his family.

It is preferable to all Gambians to see a senior government official appear on the TV and tell the whole nation, from Katong to Koina, that each telephone company operating in this country has offered ten million dalasi to government, to cover customs duty on imported rice, thus bringing the cost of rice down to the purchasing ability of every all.

The combined efforts of a people should be the reward of the people and not the reward of one lucky person.  

It sounds and appears like a child's gain in such hard times.

Finally, I want to close up by saying, it is not out of hatred or jealously that I wrote this article.  But I love criticising people and I love to be criticised.  Criticism is the very essence of life.

Abba Faal

Brikama