Subject: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 05:31:44 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Saloneman2:
Thank you for your rejoinder to my assertion that Sierra Leoneans can indeed replace the IMF in the affairs of our country. In the interest of accuracy, kindly permit me to point out the following errors in your posting which led you to the mistaken conclusion that “Sierra Leoneans cannot replace the IMF.”
1. You implied that IMF intervention in SL in the form of IMF-imposed “conditionalities” is justified because our country did not have policies to promote “the opening of Sierra Leone�s markets to international trade, exporting more to pay its debts, minimizing the role of the State in the economy, encouraging privatization, reducing protection of domestic industries, etc.”
Based on your above-quoted thinking, any country which is afflicted with the above problems would be a justifiable target for IMF’s “Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) loans” with the “IMF set[ing] certain preconditions for lending to ” such country. which leads to a key question that should help you see the regrettable error in your thinking, namely:
a. Would you kindly tell us, then, why “A Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) was [NOT] imposed on [the USA] to ensure that the country paid its debts with funds provided by the IMF,” even though the USA is the largest debtor country in the world and the largest net importer in the world — as I wrote in my Awareness Times article entitled: “How the IMF Fooled the SL Government into Impoverishing SL”?
b. Furthermore, please tell us why “A Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) was [NOT] imposed on [the USA] to ensure that the country paid its debts with funds provided by the IMF,” even though the USA is the world’s greatest culprit country in the “protection of domestic industries” — second only to Western Europe, both of which are globally notorious for protecting their dairy farmers, cotton farmers, steel industries, airline industries, coffee consumers, chocolate consumers, etc. from international, and particularly African, competition? [Please see the link attached below to understand the vast extent of U.S. protectionism and of its the world-record trade and budget deficits].
c. If Americans, whose country, the USA — which is afflicted with the same problems that you claim, by implication, justify the IMF intervention in SL — have plainly avoided being the victims of an IMF-imposed “Structural Adjustment Program (SAP),” on what grounds do you base your opinion that “Sierra Leoneans cannot replace the IMF” in our own country?
2. As we await your prompt answer to the above questions arising from your statements seeking to justify IMF conditionalities in SL which I have shown to be the most significant source of the pervasive poverty among S/Leoneans, kindly answer the following question arising from your surprising claim of IMF success in “Ghana and other developing countries.”
a. What is the evidence that “SAPs have worked in Ghana and other developing countries?”
3. In regard to your claim that “[SAPs] failed in Sierra Leone because of endemic corruption,” kindly show us precisely how the IMF’s flagship “conditionality” in its SAPs — devaluation — could “have worked in SL.”
On behalf of our long brainwashed — and impoverished — people, please accept my appreciation, in advance, for your prompt answers to the above questions.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Patriot in training
To: All
Date Posted: 18:49:17 01/05/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
My brother Jalloh you may be wasting your time with some of our brothers who have their heads in the sand, its been their so long they don’t even know how to go about removing it. Now correction about the bretton wood institutions. They were never created to help “3rd world countries” It was created to make “3rd world countries”. The bretton woods institions were created to foster and enhance the marshall plan. The marshal plan was supposed to help europe rebuild after WWII. USA was the main fanacier of the bretton woods institution because their infrastructure had not been destroyed by WWII. As a matter of fact WWII made USA an industrial giant because most of the equipments to fight WWII was manufactured and supplied by USA before they even got drawn into WWII. WWII brought the USA out of financial annonymity after the stock market crash of the late 1930s. Now the deal was that USA would be the major finacier behind the bretton woods institutions so that the marshall plan could be put into full effect and europe rebuilt, especially england which was all but destroyed during WWII. Now the question is, how was europe(especially england) going to pay back the bretton woods insttutions for the marshall plan. The answers was their colonies. You get my drift. Before that was to happen they had to create a foreing exchange advantage. So they manipulated the price of gold in their favour. they continued to do that untill their former colonies which were now ‘independent’ began to fill the crunch. Even with the crunch being levied against their former colinies because of the manipulation of the price of gold, countries like sierra leone where still in a possition to make the right decisions about their monetary situation. the rest of this explanation is in my earlier post. my brother jalloh their are a few of us who do not have their heads in the sand. by these discusions we can see those with their heads in the sand. Radical, out of the box thinking was and is still required to stabilize our economy. However africans stopped thinking for themselves a long time ago. They depend wholely and soley on their ‘western education’ and nothing else. We stopped being original. Many will be called but few chosen. It is time for all who want to be part of the few to do their home work before class starts. The new breed of africans, not brainwashed by education, enlightened by their history, and obligated to thier children(future generation) are gathering and soon we will all know each other. Untill then…
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: BIG GUY
To: All
Date Posted: 22:44:08 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Hey big guy, cool man, cool!
Reasonable people can disagree without characterizations. Besides, you do not hold a monopoly to the facts.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Bambay Lans Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 13:38:46 01/05/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
Mr. Kamara, Mr Jalloh is right to say that America is the biggest debtor to the World Bank and the IMF. America owes these organizations to the tune of eight trillion U.S. dollars ($8,000trilion). But you know why we have been requested to implement the IMF’s “Structural Adjustment Program (SAP�) and America is not? In the first place, America has a disciplined economy. When was the last time we had an American President change the existing currency to print one with his face or uncle�s face on it? America has adopted the currency we now use for centuries since their attainment of Independence.
Now remember that America was colonized by Britain and the British brought their ways of lives and made the Americans adopt those life-styles. However, at the attainment of Independence, on July 4, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was approved and officially adopted by the Continental Congress, and later years following,
America adopted their ways of lives such as their ways of dressing, talking, eating, governance and what not. What was that about? The reason was to relinquish the sentiment of Colonial Mentality. Nonetheless, America did not dissociate from everything British, they adopted what was necessary and changed or upgraded what needed to.
Another thing we have to look into closely is how has and is America spending the loans they receive from these institutions and the difference to the ways we use these loans. America has been investing their loans on the people; how? America builds schools to educated people in fields such as Science, technology, banking, businesses of different nature to name a few. Then America uses some of their loans on national and International philanthropic missions. The layman in America is sure to work provided he or she does not face heavy discriminatory barriers. Even at that the Law provides for such discrinated people to get justice through the legal systems, which are held responsible by Law to provide such service, whereby these systems are separated from the other organs of government who are feared might exact their authority to prostitute the constitution. Their human Right record has not been wonderful as ours is miserable but the two cannot be compared in some circumstances. Our leaders mistake was to invest in luxuries that in turn, came to be dependants rather production machineries. Had the monies they took for themselves were invested in some other means that could propel income for them, while providing jobs for the Sierra Leonean people these entire image they now hold would not have been a problem that requires Structural Adjustment Program (SAP to have been prescribed by the lenders.
Somebody mentioned, for example, the hosting of the Organization for African Unity (O.A.U). The time the O.A.U. was hosted in Sierra Leone it became a spending spree for African leaders. Though it beautified the capital yet, the maintenance of those structures went with the purpose for which the O.A.U. was organized: just for the Heads of Stages and governments and their entourage to see the beauty of Freetown.
So therefore, if such practices continued, it was in the interest of the people for whom these monies were loaned to us, that there be a Structural Adjustment Program (SAP,) in order to ensure that we have a direction. By me saying this does not necessarily mean that the IMF did not defraud us, I cannot come to that conclusion until I have an assessment plan-work that shows what was arranged at the time it was arranged, and the manner in which the monies were disbursed to the various governments and governmental agencies and how they were implemented.
In America there are certain things that can be taken from one to make him completely disoriented, which are work, education and transportation. When these are taken from anyone, regardless of their potentials, they are sure to perish. Well, these were taken from Sierra Leoneans who are now suffering. Is this the IMF�s way of reducing Sierra Leoneans?
So therefore, it is necessary to listen to Mr. Jalloh to give us what he knows or has found out to add to the things he has been advocating all these years. The fact that his advice in 1979 has become true is a reason we should listen and talk with him in a civil manner, an approach he has used here through out his posts. At the same token, we should read widely to arm us to challenge or add to what Mr. Jalloh gives us and restrain from categorically condemning his ideas without adding anything to them for the enlightenment of every reader and all Sierra Leoneans.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Patriot in training
To: All
Date Posted: 19:11:24 01/05/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
‘America is the biggest debtor to the World Bank and the IMF. America owes these organizations to the tune of eight trillion U.S. dollars ($8,000trilion).’ where is this information from. USA does not owe the IMF or the World Bank a single dime. Do your homework my brothers. All you have to do to check this out is go to the IMF and World Bank websites. Its there for all to see. They debt they owe is to a host of trading countries that over the years have exported into the USA more than the USA has been able to export to them in the same monetary value. That is why they have a fanacial beef with china. Do your homework.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 14:16:27 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Bambay,
To al3rt us about the dangers of borrowing recklessly and mishandling moneys borrowed is good but Mr. Jallohs way out of the dilema is a non starter.
Dont you think it is better to crack down on corruption than to worry about replacing the IMF?
We can form small organizations and collect few thousands to take care of our schools. But think of the enormity of the task of collecting a billion dollars to take care of our Government that is by the way corrupt. Dont you think it is more a burning issue to deal with corruption and ineptness.
I said I applaud Mr. Jalloh for his effort in bringing to light some of the problems we face in Sierra leone but his solution is whacky.
I repeat. My problem with Mr. Jalloh is his solution to the problems we face in Sierra leone.
If he is not proposing doing away with loans entirely then should we not concentrate on resolving corruption and ineptitude? How then can the IMF be a bigger problem than corruption and ineptitude in Sierra leone?
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 15:02:33 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Where is “Math Student” when we need him?
How much money can be collected from average working Sierra Leoneans to replace a loan from the IMF?
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Math Student
To: All
Date Posted: 16:08:09 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
I am thinking about it. I may have to ask the “principal” for his help.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN S
From: Principal
To: All
Date Posted: 16:43:41 01/05/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
My Dear Math student.
Considering that the payment for your Student Loan is now due,I will encourage you to first negotiate your consultation fees with your prospective employer before you begin to work on any new project.
YOU BOOK WAY YOU LEARN NOR TO FOR FREE YA
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN S
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 17:04:50 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Is the “pricipal” walking the easy way out?
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN S
From: PRINCIPAL
To: All
Date Posted: 18:39:44 01/05/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
Hell No,
I am only reinforcing the African Mentality of “Money Nar Hand Back Nar Ground” on my Good Math Student as he ventures into the global environment my dear K.L.
In the end developing a formula to factor a common denominator between Alie Formeh’s No Man is an Island Global Approach and Mohm Jalloh’s Some Waite Man Dem Day Suck We Blood Theory,will be our Math Student’s final assignment.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN S
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 22:13:45 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Such a monumental assignment for your student will require a loan from the IMF. Wonder who his financial adviser might be?
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 09:05:10 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Mr. Jalloh, why dont you explain how you will go about collecting the moneys from Sierra Leoneans in order to replace the IMF? Also explain who would handle the money and make it available to the Sierra Leone Government? Tell us whether there would be an interest charged. Also tell us what happens when Sierra leone defaults. What would you do?
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 09:31:10 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 05, 2006:
“Mr. Jalloh, why dont you explain how you will go about collecting the moneys from Sierra Leoneans in order to replace the IMF? Also explain who would handle the money and make it available to the Sierra Leone Government? Tell us whether there would be an interest charged. Also tell us what happens when Sierra leone defaults. What would you do?”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Thank you for your inquiry. I would be glad to answer your questions. However, I am a strong believer in the adage: “Charity begins at home.”
Therefore, to be fair to you, I believe that I should give you the opportunity to answer the following questions that, regrettably, you had refused and failed to answer yesterday:
1. It would be helpful if you would now take the next logical step and correct your omission — by explaining to us precisely why you think “Professor Cox_Georges’ advise was ill informed …”
2. Did Prof N.A. Cox-George, an internationally acclaimed economist, with a recognized tenure in the United Nations system, specifically, the Economic Commission for Africa, “not have notariety then to captivate the Government’s attention?”
If he did, may I respectfully ask what excuse you would you offer for the failure of the SL government to heed his demosntarbly sound advice to avoid relying on unnecessary foreign loans as its economic development policy?
3. In order to make sure we will both be referring to the same things in any ensuing discussion, kindly define what you understand by “socialism” in the context of your question and your statements quoted above.
4. Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 04, 2006:
“Mr. Jalloh. You are dead wrong. Whether moneys are borrowed from the IMF or from Sierra Leoneans is one thing. How we mange the moneys borrowed is quite another.”
Please set forth precisely why you think that I am “dead wrong.”
I wish to respectfully advise you that, once you duly answer the outstanding questions I had asked you yesterday, I, in turn, would then proceed to answer your own questions that you asked me only within the last hour. Me doing otherwise, in my humble opinion, would be plainly unfair to you.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 10:16:22 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
You are misrepresenting the views of Professor Cox George. He is an honorable man. Stop hiding behind his name.
Regarding the Professor, your question to me is
‘what excuse would you offer for the failure of the SL government to heed his demosntarbly sound advice to avoid relying on unnecessary foreign loans as its economic development policy?’
Poiunt of correction. You did not say that the professor advised Pa Shaki not to avoid relying on unnecessary foreign loans.
Here is what you said Professor Cox George said that I responded to:
‘ Before me, Prof. Cox-George had advised the SL government that it did NOT need any foreign loan from the IMF or anyone else to develop our country, since our country had the ability to generate its own capital.’
To this statement of yours, I emphatically said if Prof, Cox George said so, then he is wrong. I stand by my words.
The two accounts you gave are very different. You are misrepresenting the Professor’s views my freind.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 11:00:02 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
In response to my following statement:
“Before me, Prof. Cox-George had advised the SL government that it did NOT need any foreign loan from the IMF or anyone else to develop our country, since our country had the ability to generate its own capital.”
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 05, 2006:
“To this statement of yours, I emphatically said if Prof, Cox George said so, then he is wrong. I stand by my words.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
1. Now that you have helpfully repeated WHAT you think — by repeating your opinion — perhaps you would finally tell us WHY you think that “Prof, Cox … is wrong.”
2. Sadly, you also used a transparently unfounded excuse to avoid answering my following question, when instead of duly answering my simple question, you made the following irrelevant comment:
“Poiunt of correction. You did not say that the professor advised Pa Shaki not to avoid relying on unnecessary foreign loans.”
Accordingly, I am obliged to respectfully inform you that, in truth, the only point that requires correction, is your misunderstanding of my question, namely: “‘what excuse would you offer for the failure of the SL government to heed his demonstrably sound advice to avoid relying on unnecessary foreign loans as its economic development policy?”
Even though you plainly do not realize it, my question quoted immediately above does NOT rely on my “say[ing] that the professor advised Pa Shaki not to avoid relying on unnecessary foreign loans.” Thus your reference thereto is, plainly, irrelevant.
Now that you know that, hopefully you would finally answer the still outstanding question!
Finally, as regards your following opinion, which you offered, as usual, without basis, in reference to Prof. Cox-George: “Stop hiding behind his name,” my only comment is to ask you a dispositive question:
Was it Prof. Cox-George’s name that you saw me “hiding behind” as the listed author of my numerous writings that have been published on three continents during the past 26 years, which have uniformly leveled the very same criticism against the IMF as that which you now claim I am making by “hiding behind” the Prof’s name?
If not, would you kindly explain to us why I would “hide behind” the Prof.’s name on this infinitley smaller forum when I did NOT hide in front of the world?
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 11:24:18 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
This discussion is going no where. Rather than concentrating on your so called alternative to the IMF you are beating arround the bush.
I admire you for spending time to think about our country and the way forward. But this issue about collecting moneys from Sierra Leoneans to replace the IMF is merely wishful thinking.
Also, attacking the issue of corruption and ineptitude should be our primary focus in Sierra Leone much more than where we get loans from. If corruption and ineptitude persists, we may borrow more than we need and embezzle most of the funds in question. If corruption and ineptitude persists, we may borrow when we dont need to borrow.
Mr. Jalloh, Borrowing is not necessarily bad. Sometimes we need to borrow.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 12:01:39 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 05, 2006:
“This discussion is going no where. Rather than concentrating on your so called alternative to the IMF you are beating arround the bush.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
For which the plain reason, regrettably, is your surprising continuing refusal and failure to produce any evidence for your unsubstantiated statements that you still keep making, including the latest ones, namely:
“Also, attacking the issue of corruption and ineptitude should be our primary focus in Sierra Leone much more than where we get loans from. If corruption and ineptitude persists, we may borrow more than we need and embezzle most of the funds in question. If corruption and ineptitude persists, we may borrow when we dont need to borrow.
Mr. Jalloh, Borrowing is not necessarily bad. Sometimes we need to borrow”
Please be assured that, as soon as you duly tell us WHY you think your above statements, and the many similar others before them, are valid, “[t]his discussion is going” to move forward. Otherwise, please forgive me for respectfully insisting that you take responsibility for the statements you keep making without substantiation.
To do otherwise is to acquiesce in the repeat here of the very same behavior as that displayed by those SL politicians who heedlessly permitted the IMF to impoverish our country during the past 35 years, with impunity. So, just like I refused to acquiesce in such unpatriotic behavior in 1979 and later, so also must I respectfully decline to do so now.
Kindly accept my thanks for your following gracious sentiment. “I admire you for spending time to think about our country and the way forward.” In my humble opinion, the time I spend doing so is a small sacrifice to pay for the long overdue salvation of our people from the entirely avoidable consequences of our leaders’ willful refusal to learn the simplest type of lesson — lessons from the past.
Thank you, also, for taking the time to contribute to this important debate.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 13:31:47 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Mr. Jalloh
IMF loans are generally the same as personal loans.
Avoid taking much more than you need. Do not misuse a loan because you may not be able to pay it back. If you can afford it, stay away from loans. Make your loan payment in a timely manner otherwise you will suffer the consequencies.
IMF spells out the consequencies of defaulting just as community banks do.
There are certain times we may need to take loans. During such times, IMF loans come in handy.
Mr. Jalloh’s position is that we do away completely with the IMF and we substitute the IMF with another lender – Sierra Leoneans. If we do not deal with the issue of corruption, then this new lender will be at a loss. I do not suppose Mr. Jalloh intends for the new lender to make available moneys to the Sierra Leone Government at no cost in the same way that small organizations like Old Makeni Franciscan Association does for saint Francis Secondary School.
If Sierra leone defaults on its loans from the new lender should the lender take Sierra Leone Government to court? Should the new lender have the right to confiscate a government property. Should the new lender attach strings to its loans to ensure that the loans are protected?
Does Mr. Jalloh want Sierra Leoneans to make moneys available to the Sierra Leone Governmnt for free. How long should this go on? Why not propose the raising of taxes and see how Sierra Leoneans would react to that proposal?
Mr. Jalloh please spell out your plan so that we can see it.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 14:15:03 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 05, 2006:
“Mr. Jalloh
IMF loans are generally the same as personal loans.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Alas, there you go again — confusing empty opinions with fact! By now you should know by heart the inescapable question that results from your latest unsubtantiated opinion quoted above, namely:
Kindly tell us precisely HOW “IMF loans are generally the same as personal loans.”
Unless, and until, you do so, I respectfully suggest you stop wasting time by repeating the same objectionable behavior (making empty statements and brazenly presenting them as facts) in the vain hope that your mere repetition thereof would change my implacable position that you should duly support your prior claims of fact with evidence — as any rational person would.
Only after doing so — by duly answering my outstanding questions — would you have earned the right to be treated similarly.
Clearly, therefore, your repeated attempts at obfuscation are as readily transparent as your compulsive repetition. Neither would work. The proper thing for you to do, if you are serious, is to answer the questions you continue to refuse and fail to answer, despite repeated invitation to do so.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 15:25:29 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Mr. Jalloh,
IMF loans are generally the same as personal loans. It is given to those who request it with a finite period for repayment and an interest charged.
In fact, IMF loans are loans given to countries in distress. It is when a country has balance of payment problems and is unable to secure loans from lenders that they request assistance from the IMF.
The IMF frequently require the development of corrective policies that would put the country on a sustainable path in the long term. Following the establishment of corrective policies including debt reduction strategies, lenders confidence rise and loans are given.
Our financial problems would be greatly reduced if we solve our corrupt practices. We may not even need the IMF.
Let us call a spade a spade and resolve corruption and ineptness in Sierra Leone. The IMF is there to help. If we manage ourseves well we would not need it. But when things go bad we may have no choice.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 15:51:33 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 05, 2006:
“IMF loans are generally the same as personal loans. It is given to those who request it with a finite period for repayment and an interest charged.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Thank you for finally explaining why you think “IMF loans are generally the same as personal loans.”
Since you omitted to cite the evidence to support your opinion, kindly correct your omission by duly answering the following question:
Are you aware of any personal loan which requires the borrower to devalue his house, his car, his savings account, his checking account, his stocks, bonds, and any and every other asset he holds in relation to the bank or other entity offering the loan?
If so, would you please set forth the name of the institution which imposes such conditions for personal loans?
If not, are you aware that IMF loans, which you claim are “generally the same as personal loans,” in fact do impose precisely such “conditionalities?,” whereas institutions which provide personal loans do not?
In that case, how does that difference make “IMF loans [ ] generally the same as personal loans?”
I respectfully await your answer to the above questions, in addition to the others you have not yet duly answered
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 17:33:22 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
This is the last response I will give on this subject because you are not spelling out your plan and furthermore, there appears to be a problem with your general understanding of what I put out.
I am of the opinion that you frankly dont understand my use of the word GENERALLY as it relates to the subject at hand. I gave you an explanation of how IMF loans are generally the same as personal loans but you chose to omit the simmilarities I outlined and decided to dwell on the differences.
Mr. Jalloh the agreement that countries enter into before IMF loans are granted are really bad. I think we are in agreement on that issue. I have a problem with your proposed solution to the problem. It just doesn’t work.
Why do you keep talking about it and yet you do nothing? Where is the rest of your proposal including the plan on how to go about collecting the moneys from Sierra Leoneans? How long will you keep bailing the corrupt Government out with moneys you collect? Will the moneys you collect be provided to the Sierra Leone Government for free?
On a related topic, do you know that the Sierra Leone Government is hostile to Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora? Do you know that there is no right to dual citizenship? Do you know that we dont have the right to vote? How then do you expect members of the Diaspora to even consider donating moneys to a foreign country.
My freind, I think that the Sierra Leone Government should find ways to tax its way out of its dilema. For example, allow for dual citizenship only after payment of a fee of say $250. Additionally, we can be creative by providing for renewal of the dual citizenship evry five years with a fee of $100. This latter example will enable Sierra Leone to have a recuring source of funds.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 08:58:10 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
This is not the Kingdom of The Blind.
How to reduce poverty in Sierra Leone, and increase prosperity for everybody?
How to use Sierra Leone�s human and resource potential, how to integrate Kenday Kamara�s misgivings about mismanagement into a holistic system � a whole package of remedies that will heal the whole body, politic social and economic? Isn�t that what the niceties of all these discussions and some of the very concerned and long-winded speechifying are supposed to promote?
No conspiracy theories about the market deciding or the lot of beggars who have no choice, just a brief hypothetical question addressed to Saloneman2 ( about Sierra Leone going it alone) : hypothetical because we�re going so far back in time, and a hypothetical preambled with a mighty IF: OK, so in 1979 at the beginning of the Nigerian oil boom ( when a Naira was worth �1) the Sierra Leone Government authorities read Mr. Jalloh’s article in “We Yone” – Sierra Leone’s two bit top national paper and against the current of necessity and stronger and more real arguments with institutions with the money where his mouth is, decide to follow him, even as the whole world is still reeling in recession from the shock dealt by Sheik Yamani and OPEC�s dramatic hike of oil prices in 1974.
In an ideal world – assuming that the endemic corruption has been miraculously blown away, not only in the SLPMB, where 20 could be a mistaken 40 – what was the alternative to a country that was already going for broke?
I have not asked about NOW ( I am familiar with Jeffrey Sachs) but I ask about THEN � way back in 1979 – which is the current thrust of discussions about missed opportunity and so much crying over spilt milk, hopefully on the way to recovery through sound economic policy. Nor have I asked how far forward has Sierra Leone come/gone since then – with most of the �brains� drained to some other place- still delighting in things foreign � watch, cotton on their backs, hats on their head, Brazilian shoes on their feet, Cuban cigars or even Kentucky chicken hanging from their mouths, degrees, cars, dollars or pounds or Swiss francs in the Banks � some visible/recognisable signs of personal progress and maybe happiness, with love of God and God�s people in their hearts.
Not that Mr. Jalloh�s optimism is unrealistic or to be easily by-passed , waylaid or buried � he has his honour and is also quoted as a mini authority of his people ( look at this :http://lists.essential.org/pipermail/stop-imf/2005q4/001152.html
You remember Crocodile Dundee�s knife?
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Bossman2
To: All
Date Posted: 09:26:46 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Shiaka stevens would not have taken his advice from what was written in We Yone rather than from a professional with more experience. He should not be blamed for that since all presidents have economic advisers who they pay more attention to. The real focus should be on what Professor Cox-George adviced him. If we have this information then we will understand the situation better.
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 10:16:56 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Bossman2 writes on January 05, 2006:
“The real focus should be on what Professor Cox-George adviced him. If we have this information then we will understand the situation better.”
Bossman2:
I respectfully disagree. As the adage goes: The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” {NOT in the name, title (“Prof.”), age, political affiliation (“economic adviser to the presdient,”) or other irrelevant descr1ption of the cook, or the type of pot he used to make the pudding (“We Yone” vs. a speech from the dais in the SL Parliament)!
So, kindly permit me to [correct] your above-quoted statement, thus:
“The real focus should be on [whether] what [Mohamed A. Jalloh predicted in 1979 would happen if President Siaka Stevens devalued the Leone upon the advice of the IMF, actually came to pass after 1979]. [Since] we [now] have this information, then we [we should now] understand the situation better.”
Subject: Re: WHY S/LEONEANS CAN — AND SHOULD — REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Bossman2
To: All
Date Posted: 10:50:36 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Jalloh I was talking about who the president should have listened to in 1979 and not what happened after you 1979. To your credit after 1979 what you predicted came true but in 1979 it made more sense for Siaka Stevens to listen to his economic advisers and to people like Professor Cox George than to what you wrote in We Yone.
Even you admit that Professor Cox George was an �an internationally acclaimed economist, with a recognized tenure in the United Nations system, specifically, the Economic Commission for Africa�. You are better known now but back then you were either a student or a recent graduate of FBC. Your predictions came true but in 1979 Siaka Stevens should have listened to professionals. Let us agree to disagree on this matter.
Subject: THE “PRINCIPAL” WAS RIGHT!
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 01:07:39 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
variables like colonial mentality MAY change,but unfortunately CORRUPTION WILL REMAIN A CONSTANT TO MANKIND FOREVER;
Subject: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Saloneman2
To: All
Date Posted: 01:01:26 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was founded together with the World Bank at the height of the Second World War in 1944. The institution�s purpose at that time was to have an impact on a new monetary system through the management of fixed but adjustable exchange rates. It was also charged with the function of short-term lending to countries experiencing short-term balance of payments crises. However, the debt crisis of the 1980s brought new challenges to the Fund as it came to the rescue of several large commercial banks on the brink of collapse due to non payment of loans made to several governments. The IMF and the World Bank stepped in to make loans to indebted countries, who in turn would repay their creditors � the commercial banks, thereby averting an international banking crisis.
Sierra Leone�s first major experience with the IMF came under Siaka Stevens, whose mismanagement of the country�s economy had resulted in an insurmountable external debt. A Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) was imposed on Sierra Leone to ensure that the country paid its debts with funds provided by the IMF. And in keeping with its neoliberal economic ideology, the IMF set certain preconditions for lending to Siera Leone. These included the opening of Sierra Leone�s markets to international trade, exporting more to pay its debts, minimizing the role of the State in the economy, encouraging privatization, reducing protection of domestic industries, etc. These conditions are standard to all countries seeking IMF loans. Had Sierra Leone been able to minimize corruption and be more development-oriented, the IMF�s SAPs would have succeeded there. SAPs have worked in Ghana and other developing countries. They failed in Sierra Leone because of endemic corruption.
In a globalized capitalist world economy, the IMF plays a critical role in promoting the effective integration of dirt �poor countries like Sierra Leone into international financial markets. Our problem should not be with the IMF. We have to take an inward approach in locating the sources of our developmental problems. If we can minimize corruption, promote political stability, successfully diversify our production and exports, maintain fiscal sanity, convert our external debt into a sustainable burden, generate employment, we would not have to worry about what the IMF does or fails to do.
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: KLA
To: All
Date Posted: 10:20:02 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Saloneman2 Happy New year!
Kotor Jalloh nah Tranger Bone man. you nor nak downg easy wan. Jus ask Afk!
Follow link below to a site with relevant info.
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 08:51:54 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Salone man 2. You have my vote.
Please tell this to Mr. Jalloh. He is missing the point.
The IMF exists because there is a need for it. There are times Sierra Leone may need it. If we spend wisely and manage properly we would be okay.
The alternative Mr. Jalloh is proposing is ridiculous. It doesn’t work. I called it a socialist concept.
Mr. Jalloh wants Sierra Leone to appoint a Town Crier who will plead to Sierra Leoneans to donate moneys that Sierra Leone will use in crisis times. Assuming it is possible and that the moneys are collected, what happens when Sierra leone cannot repay it because of corruption do we then repeat the cycle and collect more moneys.
I say we should work on resolving the problem of corruption. Leave the IMF alone. The IMF came about because member states felt a need for it.
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Bossman2
To: All
Date Posted: 09:15:26 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
If collecting money from the people is an easy thing to do China would be the richest country on this planet.
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 10:01:28 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Bossman2 writes on January 05, 2006:
“If collecting money from the people is an easy thing to do China would be the richest country on this planet.”
Bossman2:
I humbly suggest that the following adage is a more relevant commentary on my proposal to free SL of the destructive IMF yoke:
If people did only easy things, the world would be full of more illiterate people than the entire population of China.
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 09:23:32 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Bossman2,
That is exactly the point.
I agree that the Sierra Leone Government may have borrowed moneys it shouldn’t have. That is corruption. A responsible government would borrow moneys when necessary and use such moneys wisely.
We can blame Pa shaki for the times he may have made errors in judgment and borrowed moneys recklessly. But can anyone truthfully say that we dont need the IMF.
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 09:53:39 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 05, 2006:
“But can anyone truthfully say that we dont need the IMF.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Obviously, yes! That may not be the truth that pleases those who mistake fiction for fact. But still, it is the plain truth.
Indeed, you can not deny that you do know that you can “truthfully say that we dont need the IMF,” because that truth was clearly conveyed to you by the very perceptive Patriot in training, when he directly addressed you here yesterday as follows:
“we deserve the position we are in. we were a member of the IMF since the 60s. why didin’t we borrow money then. do your homework before you enter the classroom.”
In a gracious attempt to help you follow the knowledgeable Patriot in training’s advice on the need for adequate preparation before venturing public opinions on serious issues of economic development, kindly permit me to provide you, below, with the full text of his cogent statements that should leave you in no doubt that it is indeed true that “anyone [CAN] truthfully say that we dont need the IMF.”
Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Cocorioko Forum ] [ FAQ ]
——————————————————————————–
Posted by Patriot in training on January 04, 2006 at 21:46:33:
In Reply to: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL posted by Alie Formeh Kamara on January 04, 2006 at 13:29:30:
what is your point? Why did we need to borrow so much in 1984? OAU? that corrupt and illadvised plan was hatched right under our nose after getting rid of all the well meaaning patriots in the 70s. They conspired to use our reserves to host that white elephant. OAU The planning was solidified in 1979 forced on the people. The poeple of sierra leone should have paid more attantion to that article written by our brother. So what if this our brother wasn’t as recognized or acclaiamed as the odler Prof. the 4th estate is reuired to inform the people of the misdeeds of their government. We had enough reserve money before OAU to enhance any development project we had going at that time or planning to undertake. The OAU depleted that, and those corrupt politicians, knowingly used our good standing SDRs to fill their pockets. In 1984 our exchange rate percentage based on IMF records was at 0.3%. IN 1984 alone these rogues had drawn over a billion of our SDRs. In one bleeding year. this continued until they had barely no more SDRs. YOu know what happened after, when we couldn’t pay up=devaluation which has now brought our exchange rate % to 0.00023. But how could a passive people react to such vital info when they where no longer of a nation that was run by a system of governmentth at was by the people, of the people and for the people. we were now the ‘how for do’ people. we deserve the position we are in. we were a member of the IMF since the 60s. why didin’t we borrow money then. do your homework before you enter the classroom. There is one big problem sierra leoneans have and that is we do not believe in our brothers or sisters unless they have been accorded accolades, degrees from western institutions, big family money, big family mane. Does our brother have to be a Prof Cox before we listen to him? why? whta is our ….ing problem? It is quite irritating.We surely have a looooong way to go. God help us!
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 10:53:58 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
The Patriot in training is angry that IMF moneys were used for the OAU. He asked ‘why did we need to borrow so much in 1984?
Perhaps it was corruption that made us borrow too much. If corruption is the culprit, then we need to address it.
Maybe we only needed to borrow a few millions for the OAU that could have been recovered from sales, services and taxes generated inside Sierra leone.
I subscribe to the view that when we borrow moneys, we do so wisely. There are repercussions for irresponsible behaviors when loans are not paid back.
But to say that we dont need the IMF and that we do not need any foreign loans is ridiculous. Furthermore, to say that we should repace the IMF with Sierra Leone moneys collected from members of the Diaspora is wishful thinking.
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 11:21:40 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 05, 2006:
“The Patriot in training is angry that IMF moneys were used for the OAU. He asked ‘why did we need to borrow so much in 1984? Perhaps it was corruption that made us borrow too much.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
1. “Perhaps,” the “Patriot is [NOT] angry that the IMF moneys were used for the OAU!” OR:
2. “Perhaps it was [NOT] corruption that made us borrow too much.” OR:
“Perhaps” the world is flat. OR
“Perhaps” the IMF is in SL to develop our economy. OR:
“Perhaps” you have answered the questions you refused and failed to not answer yesterday — and also this morning.
The lesson is simple: Speculation is no substitute for fact. Nor is opinion a substitute for evidence. If you have no evidence, the rational thing to do is to avoid making claims of fact!
That means you should avoid making empty statements such as your latest such statement, namely:
“Furthermore, to say that we should replace the IMF with Sierra Leone moneys collected from members of the diaspora is wishful thinking.”
I respectfully submit that the reason why you should stop the spectacle described immediately above is that “wishful thinking” is the act of imagining that your opinions can be miraculously transformeds into facts merely because you wish they are so!
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 11:50:51 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Mr. Jalloh, what claims of fact did I make? I think this discussion is moving from the ridiculous to the sublime.
If what you are proposing is not wishful thinking, please lay out how you intend to do it.
Should we make you the Town Crier to call on all Sierra leoneans to donate moneys to a general fund short of levying additional taxes on them?
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Bambay Lans Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 12:30:38 01/05/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
Greetings my brothers and sisters. Mr. Alie Formeh Kamara in your January 05, 2006 at 09:05:10 you wrote, �Mr. Jalloh, why dont you explain how you will go about collecting the moneys from Sierra Leoneans in order to replace the IMF? Also explain who would handle the money and make it available to the Sierra Leone Government? Tell us whether there would be an interest charged. Also tell us what happens when Sierra Leone defaults. What would you do?�
In response, as Mr. Mohamed A. Jalloh awaits your answers to his questions, attached is a link of one formidable Sierra Leonean organization that has raised thousands of dollars and has disbursed this sum in Sierra Leone. Many more other organizations such as the Koinadugu Descendants Organization (KDO) in their development project titled� the ‘millennium project’ in the district have worked hands-in-glove to help raise funds for many projects.
Mr. Kamara, now with the examples of these few organizations, if our focus is nationally mechanized and desired, we shall reach an unimaginable distance in collecting and disbursing and investing the collected funds.
However, we must refrain from this idea that governments are our only answers. As I mentioned to Mr. Jalloh yesterday, we, by the powers vested in us can effect decentralization, we can reduce the over population in the capital by this decentralization project; we can work with the IFM or even gradually replace them, if that suits you to develop Sierra Leone.
With the examples of these organizations, we can establish liaison between members (compatriots) here in the Diaspora and merited members (compatriots) within the borders of Sierra Leone who can carry-out and oversee the necessary goals we set. The government has to be out of such arrangements to a greater extent. We set Laws binding Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad. If Tegloma has successfully functioned since 1975 therefore, it is foreseeable that Sierra Leoneans can organize and make things work for themselves. However, these efforts will succeed only if we have a common agenda, a common goal: Sierra Leone. We should be able to educate ourselves that we are working in the interest of Sierra Leone rather than a specific tribe, a section or what have you. Now during the Colonial era, the East, West, North and South were working for the Colonial masters for �Sierra Leone.� At the time as it is now, we had Mendes, Temenies, Fullahs, Limbas working for the Queen of England, oops! Sorry Sierra Leone because we had no A.P.C., S.L.P.P. and when anyone drove a Mercedes Benz he or she was considered fit because the Whiteman said so. Tthen we took or received the baton; why can�t we use the same determination to work for that nation as a team the same way we were doing it for the Colonialists?
Haven said that, let me go on saying that I do agree whole heartedly to Mr. Jalloh�s notion about the IMF cajoling Sierra Leone government, which is why our currency and state of affairs went downhill. In summation to these anecdotal facts, and in the interest and purpose of solution oriented investigation or fact finding mission, I would mention certain institutional breakdowns, the reasons for which would help in a great deal to eye marking or pinpointing where our problems lie.
Following are the mentioned institutions:
Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Boards (S.L.P.M.B.)
Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation (S.L. R.T.C.)
National Diamond Mining Company (N.D.M.C.)
And many unnamed committees corporations whose networks saw a breakdown, an overhaul or a restructuring immediately after the attainment of Independence in 1961 and compare that to the structure that was in place during the Colonial era. When we observe the structure that was in place during the colonial era, the manner in which this structure shifted when the Colonizers left, what obstacles if any, the new structure that emerged in the place of the colonialists was facing vis-�-vis their relationship with the Colonialist who probably left angrily, how that structure was functioning, how the structure that followed operated and what obstacles they received, then we come to find out why in fact these structures were removed or restructured. We find out how productive these structures were during the Colonial era and immediately post Colonial era and much more latter to the present.
Another issue I would like us to examine is why we changed our currency from the pound sterling to the Leones, the many reprinting that ensued and how this affected our economy?
Then we look at what point did the IMF come in with their programs and why.
By and large Mr. Kamara, Mr. Jalloh is right that with determination and the pride in nationalism can change the much reliance we have on foreign donors or loans. The monies that are collected here, referring to your question to Mr. Jalloh, can be used to purchase tractors for instance; set-up agricultural departments in every corner of Sierra Leone, employ people who would work there (empowering them,) get our farmers to rent these tractors (raising income for the organization, ) and then pay taxes to the government.
These institutions can through many mechanisms improve qualities of lives, improve schools, medical facilities and therefore help demobilize the population concentration in the cities because now people can get work in their areas, some of where they have their roots and families. We can encourage the Blacksmiths to engage in the works they use to do rather than languish in Freetown, break makers to make bread in their areas, tailors to work in these areas, carpenters, painter you name it can get job because now people in the agrarian sector can afford to build homes of their own. In fact some can even contribute to have cinema halls or recreation centers where they meet after a hard days work and entertain themselves. These are some of the things they are missing that made them move to Freetown.
One thing I agree ostensibly with is that corruption has to be checked otherwise, all these efforts would be in shackles should it persists, and progress will never be achieved in Sierra Leone and any African nation for that matter.. In fact, the presence and scale of corruption is why most Sierra Leoneans are skeptical to make contributions.otherwise, changes would have taken place long before now.
Subject: Re: WHY SIERRA LEONEANS CANNOT REPLACE THE IMF
From: Bambay Lans Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 13:58:45 01/05/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
The organization I wanted to attach, now attached.
Subject: The Prime Minister of Israel in hospital
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 18:31:13 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Entered From: c-051271d5.01-32-73746f42.cust.bredbandsbolaget.se at 213.113.18.5
Message:
The Prime Minister of Israel in hospital
Subject: Re: The Prime Minister of Israel in hospital
From: Dr. Baimba Kamara, JD. (Law)
To: All
Date Posted: 11:38:32 01/05/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
I hope the Prime Minister of Israel will recover speedily. I am sure that The Almighty God will guide and protect him. The Primier has shown to be another symbol of peace in the Middle East. He has the courage to engage the Leader of Palestine in a peace process. This is good for mankind. It is always good for Mankind to live in peace, and not in pieces.
Subject: Re: The Prime Minister of Israel in hospital
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 00:21:39 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
The Psalms:
http://www.breslov.com/bible/Psalms.htm
Subject: Re: The Prime Minister of Israel in hospital
From: Campala
To: All
Date Posted: 13:49:23 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
I wish Prime Minister Sharon a speedy recovery.
He is a true Patriot who has place the interest of his Nation above all else in seeking peace with the Palestinians
Subject: PRAYERS for ISRAEL the land of the Bible
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 00:51:38 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Prayers for Israel
Subject: Re: PRAYERS for ISRAEL the land of the Bible (Update)
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 07:16:49 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
For Rev.Kabbs Kanu and brethren:
http://www.truthnet.org/
Subject: Re: The Prime Minister of Israel in hospital
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 00:21:10 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
The Pslams:
http://www.breslov.com/bible/Psalms.htm
Subject: Re: The Prime Minister of Israel in hospital
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 00:37:04 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Praying for a leader and God’s People of Israel
http://www.tehilimhotline.org/default.asp
Subject: WHAT EVER HAPPENED?
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 15:21:43 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
What ever happened to the promised January 4th public statement pertaining to the meetings between the APC bosses and Hinga Norman?
Subject: Re: WHAT EVER HAPPENED?
From: Guma valley boy
To: All
Date Posted: 19:13:27 01/04/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
Norman may be playing smart,deliberately stalling the process intending to goad the legislature into challenging his indictment.
On the other hand Earnest Koroma and Charles Margai understand that a coalition including Norman immediately trumps the dominance of SLPP in South Eastern Sierra Leone.
IF SOME PEOPLE DEM SAY CHIEF NORMAN NAR BIN SOJA WAY DON SABI BUT TACTICS FROM WAY EE DAY NAR MILITARY ACADEMY, EN EARNEST KOROMA NAR BUSINESSMAN WAY NOR FAIL YET PAN PROJECT,DON CHARLES MARGAI NAR LAWYER WAY ALWAYS SHOCK PEOPLE LAST MINUTE,
Then people must not expect expect anything less than a deliberate process.
Subject: Re: WHAT EVER HAPPENED?
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 22:36:09 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Sound more like the quid for the pro, or the pro for the quid cannot come to terms.
Meanwhile, is it only an assumption that a coalition of Norman and Earnest and co is enough to trump the SLPP in the Southeast? I ask this question because the APC is enemy numero uno for the people of the Southeast and a 360 degree turn from that is almost unnatural.
Subject: Re: WHAT EVER HAPPENED?
From: Bobson
To: All
Date Posted: 00:05:46 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
KL, how about a little respect for the intelligence of the people of the south-east?. How about a belated happy new year?
Subject: Re: WHAT EVER HAPPENED?
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 01:16:12 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
History is on my side and 2007 will prove me right or wrong. Besides, Mr. SLPP himself, Sengbe, more than once stated that the party is more important than its leaders/candidates.
Subject: Re: WHAT EVER HAPPENED?
From: PARTY BOSS
To: All
Date Posted: 16:01:17 01/04/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
The statement will be made immediately after all the Christmas and New Year’s jollof rice have been digested.
Subject: Paul kamara man of the year?
From: cadmus
To: All
Date Posted: 11:10:58 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
This is nothing personal to Paul as a person, but, how can one be found guilty of an offence, convicted for that offence, yet become ‘man of the year’…someone please explain.
The Appeal court Judges who set him free should be men and women of the year for upholding our Judiciary system.Don’t you think?
Subject: Re: Paul kamara man of the year?
From: Musedal – UK
To: All
Date Posted: 17:21:47 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Absolutely! I’ll go one further, the SLPP should be crowned not only party of the year but party of the developing world. Mr Paul Kamara enjoyed a rare court victory put in place by this party.
If anyone can name another country in the continent with an independent judiciary (which freed a man on appeal for defaming a sitting president), I would ignore wispers of an APC ‘dirty trick’ in the award selection.
Subject: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 10:30:36 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Bambay Lans Kamara wrote on January 03, 2006:
“Mr. Jalloh, I want you to please understand that I take great delight in this very revolutionizing artwork of yours to engage in a debate with one, your junior in age and wisdom, something that most Africans see as demeaning to their integrity, but the fact remaining that you value people�s readiness to be informed and their level of understanding, makes me respect you the more ”
Bambay Lans Kamara:
Thank you for your characteristically gracious sentiments. With your permission, I will respond to both your postings yesterday here.
Please be assured that, whereas I may be chronologically your senior, such accident of birth does not obligate me to consider you, or any one else, as my “junior in age and wisdom.” As far as I am concerned, you and I are equal participants in our collective quest for knowledge that we hope will benefit our country and alleviate the tribulations of our needlessly long-suffering people. As you cogently put it: “It is our country; it is our right and responsibility therefore, we must contribute in any little or special way towards her development.”
Which brings me to your following well-meaning statement: “Mr. Mohamed A. Jalloh, please be reminded that you are putting your case across with the utmost civility, responsibility and seriousness it deserves, and as such, I would advice the readers that I am not in any way challenging you but as your message was not receptive in 1979 must have stemmed from some reason that I am trying tooth-and-nail to unveil in our dialogue.”
Again, with due appreciation for your kind sentiment, please permit me to state the predictable reason I believe that the government of Sierra Leone did not pay attention to my 1979 published warning against devaluing our then very strong currency — the Leone. It was for the very same reason that the same government paid no attention to SL’s most knowledgeable economist, in my humble opinion, the late emeritus professor of economics at my alma mater, Fourah Bay College, Dr. N. A. Cox-George, in the late 1960s. Before me, Prof. Cox-George had advised the SL government that it did NOT need any foreign loan from the IMF or anyone else to develop our country, since our country had the ability to generate its own capital.
As you know, in 1979, I actually published in the “We Yone” newspaper in Freetown, a series of more detailed and specific warnings to the SL government regarding IMF loans and their potential to devastate the then faily stable and comfortable SL economy. Remember how taxi-cab rides used to cost a mere 20 cents then, and a civil servant could honestyly survive comofortably on a salary of Le 200 a month because, with just one Leone, a S/Leonean could buy a sandwich, a soft drink, and still have change left to pay for a 10 cent poda-poda ride home? You can thank the IMF — and their Ciolonial Mentality-afflicted errand boy, the S.L. government for replacing that good life in the late 1970s in SL for the life of the poorest people on earth today.
At that time, when I predicted that only bad things would result from teh SL government listening to the IMF’s demonstrably wrong advice, I had just survived Prof. Cox-George’s famously stringent standards in the first-ever B.Sc (honors) program in economics with a concentration in accounting established in FBC’s 100-year history. To give you an idea of how tough Prof. Cox-George’s academic standards were, I was told a story about how he once reportedly had to be rescued by Nigerian policemen on the campus of Nsukka University where he had taught prior to his 1970s FBC career, after he had given grades of “C” or worse to Nigerian students at Nsukka who, having earned Division Ones and “A”s in their GCE “O”- and “A” -Level exams respectively, understandably did not see themselves as “C” students!
Anyway, returning to your question: The SL government did not listen to me inj 1979, or Prof. Cox-George earlier, for the predictable reason that we were both Africans daring to contradict the awe-inspiring advice of faultless foreigners from the exalted IMF and the World Bank, institutions long established in the capital of the free world: Washington, D.C.!
With such God-like competition, we mere Africans and, worse still, fellow S/Leoneans, stood a snowflake’s chance of survival in hell of convincing the politicians of our own country to take our advice, instead of that of foreigners, because of one, and only one, but fatal, problem: Colonial Mentality.
As regards your point about Africa’s destructive leaders feeling insecure and climbing into bed with the IMF because of their “insecurities caused by the array of coup-de-tats, which sometimes left most countries coffers empty that precipitated into their participation as collaborators,” I respectfully suggest that such a reason is NOT a justification for an afflicted African leader to mortgage the future of millions of his fellow countrymen and country women. He should duly put the future of his country above his own much less significant selfish interests. If he can not do so, he is plainly unfit to lead his people.
You properly identify a mechanism for African leaders to discourage coup-making in African countries by suggesting that they apply a consistent sanction of exclusion to such coup-making wannabe heads of states. However, you omitted perhaps the most effective weapon against selfish and unpatriotic coup-makers when you stated: “I see your point that Africans contributed towards our problems but the majority especially Sierra Leoneans do not have alternatives.” I respectfully disagree:
Not only do Africans, in general, and S/Leoneans, in particular, have an alternative to the “do-nothing; how-for-do?-God-dae” attitude that has allowed brutal dictators to flourish with impunity in far too many African countries over the past 50 years, but such an alternative is the most powerful agent of social, political, and economic change available to long-suffering Africans. In other words:.
There is no greater power in Africa — or anywhere else, for that matter — than the will of the people! If the people of SL today decided that they would no longer be the dustbin of the world, I assure you that they will stop being the dustbin of the world — legally, morally, and peacefully. But first, our people must be educated about the awesome power in their hands, which sadly, they have no idea they possess!
I was reminded of this grave omission two months ago when I was a panelist at a SL Network seminar organized by a group of fellow S/Leoneans at Howard University here in Washington, D.C. last November [wwww.sierraleonenet.com]. Addressing a group of S/Leoneans who had sacrificed their Saturday afternoon to come listen to Dr. John Karefa-Smart, Emmerson “Borbor Belleh” Bockarie, his fellow youthful musician, Velma Richards, and I, among a few other S/Leoneans, discuss how S/Leoneans in the Diaspora could contribute to meaningful change in our country. At the seminar, I asked the audience a simple question, namely:
“How many of you sitting here think that you could come up with $40 million in one year if S/Leone needed that money to save our country? One or two brave hands went up.
My next question: “How many of you think that you could contribute 27 cents a day to save your country? Of course, every hand went up.
Then I told them: “All you have to do is assemble a total of 200,000 of your fellow S/Leoneans and persuade them to contribute less than the cost of a newspaper a day, for one year, and I guarantee you, you will have raised $40 million dollars in a SINGLE year!”
And as their faces lit up suddenly with the realization of the tremendous financial and economic power in their hands that they never even knew they possessed, I continued: “What if you persuaded 400,000 S/Leoneans, inmstead of 200,000, to contribute just over a dollar a day — $1.11 to be exact — how much money would you S/Leoneans, who have been called the poorest people on earth — have raised at the end of a single year, even without selling a single unit of diamonds, gold, iron ore, bauxite, coffee, cocoa or fish? Of course, no one could come up with the right answer immediately. So I graciously thanked them for trying and I told them the staggering answer:
$160 MILLION. That’s right: The so-called poorest-of- the-poor on earth S/Leoneans can — in a single year –generate $160 million by contributing just about one dollar ($1) a day!
And then, amidst the cries of shocked, but pleasant, surprise from the audience, I added: “If those same S/Leoneans continued saving their one dollar every day every year, how long would it take them to contribute one BILLION U.S. dollars to save our country? The answer, of course, is: Less than six and one-half years — 6 years and 3 months, to be precise!
Now, I respectfully invite you to consider a sobering — and no doubt, suroprising fact: In all its 35 years of pillage and plunder of our country, the IMF’s total outstanding loans made to the SL government have NOT totaled one billion dollars!
So, hopefully you now have the answer to your very important implied question you posed to me yesterday, namely:
“Now I live you to give us the Economic alternative to the IMF.”
Now that you — and hopefully all S/Leoneans — know that the IMF is a totally UNNECESSARY presence in SL’s economic life, all that is left is for S/Leoneans to ACT on my most recent advice, as they did NOT act on similar advice to save our country’s future that I offered, at grave risk to my life, if not my freedom, under the notoriously vindictive government of President Siaka Stevens, more than 25 years ago — in 1979.
Kindly send me an E-mail at [email protected] so we can privately continue the discussion you initiated about Mr. Bah of Kamakwie — a town which I had the privilege of visiting twice in my pre-teen years.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Math Student
To: All
Date Posted: 13:02:46 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
SOLUTION 1:
200,000 * 27 cents =5,400,000 cents or $54,000 a day
$54,000 * 365 = $19,710,000 a year.
Below $40 Million but still good cash
SOLUTION 2:
400,000 * $1.11 = $444,000 a day
$444,000 * 365 = $162,060,000 (CORRECT)
(if we use only work days the answers are smaller)
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 13:18:36 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Math Student:
Alas, the bane of trying to compose a posting while working at the same time! Thank you for catching my typographical error in typing $40 Million instead of $20 Million trhat obviously I had intended to type.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 12:19:15 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
The SL government did not listen to me inj 1979, or Prof. Cox-George earlier, for the predictable reason that we were both Africans daring to contradict the awe-inspiring advice of faultless foreigners from the exalted IMF and the World Bank, institutions long established in the capital of the free world: Washington, D.C.! ————– Mohm Jalloh
Professor Cox_Georges’ advise was ill informed and there is no evidence that your article in 1979 was read by the President.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 12:34:56 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 04, 2006:
“Professor Cox_Georges’ advise was ill informed …”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Thank you for sharing your above-quoted opinion with us.
It would be helpful if you would now take the next logical step and correct your omission — by explaining to us precisely why you think “Professor Cox_Georges’ advise was ill informed …”
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 13:29:30 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
The reason we borrow moneys is because we want to undertake projects that we cannot afford with our own moneys. I see nothing wrong with that.
We should be mindful of corruption and plan well in order to reap benefits from our investments.
If we rely only on our own funds how would we take care of reconstruction in post war Sierra Leone? Beg.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Patriot in training
To: All
Date Posted: 21:46:33 01/04/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
what is your point? Why did we need to borrow so much in 1984? OAU? that corrupt and illadvised plan was hatched right under our nose after getting rid of all the well meaaning patriots in the 70s. They conspired to use our reserves to host that white elephant. OAU The planning was solidified in 1979 forced on the people. The poeple of sierra leone should have paid more attantion to that article written by our brother. So what if this our brother wasn’t as recognized or acclaiamed as the odler Prof. the 4th estate is reuired to inform the people of the misdeeds of their government. We had enough reserve money before OAU to enhance any development project we had going at that time or planning to undertake. The OAU depleted that, and those corrupt politicians, knowingly used our good standing SDRs to fill their pockets. In 1984 our exchange rate percentage based on IMF records was at 0.3%. IN 1984 alone these rogues had drawn over a billion of our SDRs. In one bleeding year. this continued until they had barely no more SDRs. YOu know what happened after, when we couldn’t pay up=devaluation which has now brought our exchange rate % to 0.00023. But how could a passive people react to such vital info when they where no longer of a nation that was run by a system of governmentth at was by the people, of the people and for the people. we were now the ‘how for do’ people. we deserve the position we are in. we were a member of the IMF since the 60s. why didin’t we borrow money then. do your homework before you enter the classroom. There is one big problem sierra leoneans have and that is we do not believe in our brothers or sisters unless they have been accorded accolades, degrees from western institutions, big family money, big family mane. Does our brother have to be a Prof Cox before we listen to him? why? whta is our ….ing problem? It is quite irritating.We surely have a looooong way to go. God help us!
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 11:53:40 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
You seem to put excessive reliance on your publication on ‘We Yone Press’ in 1979 as a way to reach government’s ears. Did you try going through parliamentarians?
You must admit that Sierra Leone lacked institutions then that commanded attention and that the best way in the 1970’s to reach government’s ears was through parliament.
Let us suppose you wrote the articles at issue in 1979. You did not have notariety then to captivate the Government’s attention.
Mr. Jalloh, I believe that people will pay more attention to you now because you have done a lot in publicizing your work.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 13:41:20 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 04, 2006:
“Let us suppose you wrote the articles at issue in 1979. You did not have notariety then to captivate the Government’s attention.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
“Let us suppose” 🙂 you are correct that, referring to myself: “You did not have notariety then to captivate the Government’s attention.”
Did Prof N.A. Cox-George, an internationally acclaimed economist, with a recognized tenure in the United Nations system, specifically, the Economic Commission for Africa, “not have notariety then to captivate the Government’s attention?”
If he did, may I respectfully ask what excuse you would you offer for the failure of the SL government to heed his demosntarbly sound advice to avoid relying on unnecessary foreign loans as its economic development policy?
As regards your familiar lament to me, namely: “You seem to put excessive reliance on your publication on ‘We Yone Press’ in 1979 as a way to reach government’s ears. Did you try going through parliamentarians?” you must admit that I have already make clear my views to you about your supposition, viz.
Subject: Re: COLONIAL MENTALITY
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 12:25:28 12/22/05 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara wrote on December 22, 2005:
“You said your articles where puiblished in the ‘We Yone Press’. Why do you think they were read by the President or those that mattered?
Weren’t there other ways you could have communicated your views?”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Thanks for your inquiry. The “We Yone” newspaper in which my articles were published was the leading newspaper in SL. It was also the official newspaper of the ruling APC government of President Siaka Stevens at the time the articles were published. In my humble opinion, it is not unreasonable to expect that the “President or those that mattered” would have just a little interest in knowing what their official organ of comunication was publishing in their name, even if they never read the country’s leading newspaper.
You also asked:
“Weren’t there other ways you could have communicated your views?”
My only interest in publishing my articles was to publicly inform the people of SL about the danger to their welfare arising from the devaluation of the Leone. It would be helpful if you could suggest “other ways [I] could have communicated [my] views.”
I hope the above information is helpful.
——————————————————————————–
Subject: Re: COLONIAL MENTALITY
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 12:41:15 12/22/05 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Yes, your information is helpful.
The only other way I can think of for communicating ones views and reaching the Government is by writing the President personally.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 14:03:35 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
I dont think Professor Cox George relied on ‘We Yone’ press to get serious issues to the government. I knew Professor Cox George. You are no Professor Cox George.
Furthermore, if Professor Cox George said as you wrote that the Sierra Leone Government did not need any foreign loan from the IMF or anyone else to develop Sierra Leone, then I must disagree with him.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 14:13:51 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 04, 2006″
“Furthermore, if Professor Cox George said as you wrote that the Sierra Leone Government did not need any foreign loan from the IMF or anyone else to develop Sierra Leone, then I must disagree with him.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Again, your omission obliges me to respectfully repeat my earlier request, namely:
In reference to Prof. George’s statement, kindly tell us precisely why you “disagree with him.”
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 15:03:19 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
I disagree because we lack capital and the ability to generate it on our own without help.
It seems that your approach for generating capital is to ask a Town Crier to solicit voluntary contributions from Sierra Leoneans.
I dont think that was what Professor Cox George had in mind.
Stop hiding behind the Professor. You two have very different ideas.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 13:54:30 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
I knew Professor Cox George. He was a prominent scholar in Sierra leone. But I dont think, like your sef, he used ‘We yone’ press to air his views to the Sierra leone Government.
Let me make this clear that if Professor Cox George said, as you wrote, that the Sierra Leone Government did not need any foreign loan from the IMF then he was wrong.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 11:16:56 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Mr. Jalloh:
Are you preaching socialism? Loans are a big part of doing business in a capitalist world. Loans from the IMF are okay if used wisely and for there intended purposes.
When in crisis, socialist methods like the one you postulated are welcomed but cannot permanently replace the venerable loan system in the Capitalist world.
Your socialist solution to Sierra Leone’s predicament will need more than Lenin to implement. It is good though in theory. But to be practical we have to consider achievable approaches.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 12:50:09 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 04, 2006:
“Mr. Jalloh:
Are you preaching socialism?”
and he further writes:
“Your socialist solution to Sierra Leone’s predicament will need more than Lenin to implement.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Thank you for your rejoinder. In stark contrast to my economic analysis to which you responded, you apparently wish to interject political themes into what I respectfully submit is a pure economic analysis of the failure of policy in SL attributable to the SL government in the period 1979 to 1985.
In order to make sure we will both be referring to the same things in any ensuing discussion, kindly define what you understand by “socialism” in the context of your question and your statements quoted above.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 13:36:19 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Mr. Jalloh,
When you ask for voluntary contributions from Sierra leoneans you are etching on the social arena. Therefore the practice is socialist.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 14:05:29 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 04, 2006:
“When you ask for voluntary contributions from Sierra leoneans you are etching on the social arena. Therefore the practice is socialist.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Respectfully, I must disagree with your above conclusion.
Your error is to ASSUME, implicitly — and therefore illogically — the purpose for collecting the voluntary contributions. There could be any number of purposes for doing so — including replacing the IMF as a lender to the SL government, but without attaching the notoriously misguided “conditionalities” that have destroyed SL’s immediate economic future. It would be an error in thinking to describe such a practice as “socialist.”
In order to illustrate your error, consider that when a commercial company here in America wants to raise capital for its (non-socialist) profit-making activities, it does indeed “ask for voluntary contributions from” the general public. However, that solicitation, in and of itself, does NOT mean that the plainly capitalistic venture is “etching on the social arena!” Nor, clearly, does it mean that “Therefore the practice is socialist.”
Therefore, your conclusion that a similar request as that described in my example, “is socialist,” is, regrettably, plainly invalid.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 14:24:22 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
So, let us assume your wish is granted and we replace IMF funds with moneys collected from Sierra Leoneans.
Would this be free monies? Would it be interest free?
Without controlling corruption where would this shift lead us?
My friend, corruption and ineptness are our problems. Let us look at practical solutions rather than some idealistic constructs that mean nothing.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 14:58:49 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 04, 2006:
“Would this be free monies? Would it be interest free?”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Since I had clearly stated that one possible use of the money raised by S/Leoneans could be to replace the IMF as a lender to the SL government, I respectfully submit that I had given you ample information to answer your own question quoted above. In case it is still necessary to help you answer it, I humbly suggest that you can find the answer by answering the following easy questions:
Is the IMF loan money “free monies?”
Is the IMF loan money “interest free?”
Alie Formeh Kamara also writes on January 04, 2006:
“My friend, corruption and ineptness are our problems.”
As you know, I am on record as saying that those are the two main problems on the part of S/Leoneans. As you must also know, I have also written — as recently as yesterday — that those local problems pale into insignificance when compared to the harm that has been inflcited upon our country and our people by foreigners and foreign entities, particularly the IMF and the World Bank.
So,would you kindly tell us how “controlling” a very serious, but relatively minor, problem (local corruption compared to devaluation) can “lead us?”
Moreover, regarding your following opinion: “Let us look at practical solutions rather than some idealistic constructs that mean nothing,” it would be helpful if you correct your third consecutive omission in as many hours by telling us precisely what you think is “impractical” about my proposal to collect anywhere from 27 cents a day to $1 a day from S/Leoneans.
Finally, would you kindly tell us why you think that such a proposal is “some idealistic constructs that mean nothing?”
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 15:19:33 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
As you know, I am on record as saying that those are the two main problems on the part of S/Leoneans. As you must also know, I have also written — as recently as yesterday — that those local problems pale into insignificance when compared to the harm that has been inflcited upon our country and our people by foreigners and foreign entities, particularly the IMF and the World Bank.
—————————–jalloh
Mr. Jalloh. You are dead wrong. Whether moneys are borrowed from the IMF or from Sierra Leoneans is one thing. How we mange the moneys borrowed is quite another.
Are you saying that there is more harm in borrowing from the IMF than the harm from embezzling the borrowed moneys?
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 15:35:29 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara writes on January 04, 2006:
“Mr. Jalloh. You are dead wrong. Whether moneys are borrowed from the IMF or from Sierra Leoneans is one thing. How we mange the moneys borrowed is quite another.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
As you know, I do not claim a monopoly of knowledge. So, it is possible, as you think, that I am “dead wrong.” However, you stating so does not make it so!
So, for the fourth consecutive time today, I am obliged by your surprising omission, to ask you to set forth any evidence that suppports yet another of your regretabbly unsubstantiated opinions, namely:
Please set forth precisely why you think that I am “dead wrong.”
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Alie Formeh Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 16:30:59 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
As you know, I do not claim a monopoly of knowledge. So, it is possible, as you think, that I am “dead wrong.” However, you stating so does not make it so!
———–Jalloh
Now you are beginning to sound like a chicken.
Mr. Jalloh,
Corruption and ineptness are big problems. getting loans from the IMF is not a problem. In fact it is an opportunity which we are free to take. When we take the loan from the IMF, it is what we do with the loan that we should be concerned with.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 02:30:24 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Alie Formeh Kamara wrote on January 04, 2006:
“When we take the loan from the IMF, it is what we do with the loan that we should be concerned with.”
Alie Formeh Kamara:
Sadly, your above-quoted opinion embraces the erroneous thinking of the uninformed SL politicians which made it easy for the IMF to fool the SL government into massively impoverishing the people of SL.
Your error of thinking is, again, one of assumption. Specifically, without basis, you assume, implicitly — and therefore illogically — that obtaining a loan from the IMF is the same as doing so from anyn other lender, such as your credit card company. It is not — as anyone who knows how IMF loans are actually granted would easily confirm for your information!
Kindly permit me to give you a clue that might help you see the fatal error in your thinking: the so-called IMF conditionalities. For your obviously necessary information, those conditionalities are the specific conditions that the IMF uniformly attaches to its loans to poor countries like SL, which no credit card company would attach to its loans to its customers. You may have heard of one of such “conditionalities,” namely: Devaluation.
If not, I humbly and respectfully suggest that you start correcting your surprising error of thinking by reading about the IMF-instigated policy of devaluation in Africa — and particularly in SL — and why it far surpasses corruption in its negative impact on the welfare of Africans, in general, and S/Leoneans, in particular.
If, and when, you do so, you would, hopefully, understand the second error in your thinking displayed in your following breathtakingly inaccurate opinion: “Corruption and ineptness are big problems. getting loans from the IMF is not a problem.”
Please allow me to give you another clue as to why devaluation is far worse than corruption by quoting from my almost five year-old writing, which was readily available on this forum on the very day before you made the erroneous statements quoted above:
“First, and immediately, [IMF-instigated devaluation in SL] devalues any and all of the assets of each and
every person who has assets inside S/L — cars, houses, bank accounts,
Leones, agricultural produce, etc. Indeed, this is the only effect that we
have discussed so far, as JMR accurately noted yesterday in his self-imposed
penance of vainly attempting to teach the willfully “blind and deaf” the
basics of elementary economics.
However, that is only the tip of the iceberg that is the embodiment of
the virulence of devaluation. Perhaps the most pervasive and devastating
impact of devaluation comes from its undeniable fueling of a hydra-headed
monster that has even the mighty economies of the “advanced” countries of
western Europe, Japan, and especially the US, quaking in palpable fear, as
JMR again pointed out sometime ago, viz. sustained and escalating inflation.
It is this spiraling hurricane that unremittingly and catastrophically
devastates the entire economy through its effect on each and every economic
activity — salaries, wages, the prices of food, clothing, cars, houses,
cinema tickets, airplane tickets, beer, football game tickets, rent, the cost
of weddings, “pull-nar-does,” funerals, the cost of raw materials for local
manufacturers – the list is as long as that of any and all economic goods and
services that exist in the economy!.
Significantly, it is through devaluation’s escalation of all local prices
of the inputs used by local manufacturers and other producers, and the
concurrent failure of local wages to rise high enough to match the inflation
resulting from high manufacturers’ costs, that it eventually triggers that
most unusual of economic phenomena: the enduring and yawning “cycle of
poverty” involving sustained high inflation and low incomes.
Accordingly, devaluation in the typical African economy such as S/L’s
would end up drastically cheapening the country’s currency, without
increasing the country’s export revenue — the main reason why devaluations
succeed and are welcomed in Western Europe, North America and Asia.”
[Source: “Re: Devaluation[2]: A Layman’s Guide to S/L’s Demise [1]” posted by Mohamed A. Jalloh on Leonenet on Mon Jul 02 2001 – 11:49:14 EDT]
Finally, since the above information was right here for you to have read two days ago, it is plain that your erroneous statements result from your failure to adequately prepare before presenting your opinions. Accordingly, I am obliged to respectfully remind you of the sound advice that the extremely intelligent Patriot in training graciously offered you here yesterday, after you had refused and failed — four consecutive times — to set forth any evidence to support your plainly mistaken opinions, namely:
“do your homework before you enter the classroom.”
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 14:53:41 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
And now I am beginning to feel like I am riding on a rollercoaster!
I am inclined to believe AFK that “corruption and ineptness are our problems.” Yet, what metrics do we use to calculate, timewise, the genesis of corruption in Salone? In other words, is corruption the result of colonial mentality, or Sierra Leone, since time immemorial, has been corrupt?
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 15:15:13 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
K.L writes on January 04, 2006:
“In other words, is corruption the result of colonial mentality, or Sierra Leone, since time immemorial, has been corrupt?”
K.L.:
There is no necessarily relationship between corruption and Colonial Mentality other than the obvious fact that both are acts of public immorality.
Indeed, there is a significant difference between corruption and Colonial Mentality, namely: Corruption can be found among members of any and every race, as I wrote in one of my Awareness Times articles (see the link below), whereas Colonial Mentality afflicts Africans only.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: K.L
To: All
Date Posted: 15:37:17 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
I must confess I haven’t read the link you posted as the answer to the following question might have been answered. But what is so unique about Africans, among all others, to be afflicted this much by colonialism?
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 04:05:20 01/05/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
K.L wrote on January 04, 2006:
“I must confess I haven’t read the link you posted as the answer to the following question might have been answered. But what is so unique about Africans, among all others, to be afflicted this much by colonialism?”
K.L:
Since, as I wrote a few days ago, S/Leoneans are arguably the Africans most afflicted by Colonial Mentality, please permit me to answer your question by reproducing hereunder my earlier posting:
Re: HOW TO ERADICATE COLONIAL MENTALITY IN SL [PART 1]
——————————————————————————–
Posted by Mohamed A. Jalloh on December 29, 2005 at 03:00:20:
In Reply to: Re: HOW TO ERADICATE COLONIAL MENTALITY IN SL [PART 1] posted by Critical Thinker on December 28, 2005 at 10:17:44:
Both your observations, I believe, are accurate. As Guma correctly stated yesterday, “However,in the end, it comes down to how inividuals generally percieve themselves and the choices they make in conducting their affairs in society.”
Therefore, the level of Colonial Mentality varies from country to country based on the differences among individuals in those countries. Which, of course, begs the question: Why is the average S/Leonean affected worse than others?
Abstracting from individual reasons, I believe that the divide-and-rule policy of the British colonialists, exacerbated by their purely selfish bias in favor of our Krio ancestors, largely explains the elevated Colonial Mentality in SL. That cynical British ploy succeeded in making other tribes in SL believe that their own salvation (British favor) lay in becoming like the favored Krios.
The problem, of course, was that a disproportionate part of Krio culture was derived from that of their erthswhile slave masters — Westerners. Thus, by deliberate design, the British entrenched in the average S/Leonean an in-built tendency to emulate Western culture. Significantly, this was not replicated in any of the other societies invaded and colonized by Britain.
Therefore, those other ex-colonies, such as India, and even Nigeria, a fellow African country, escaped the weighty burden that the British cynically imposed upon our country — an almost slavish adulation of Western culture concurrent with a uniform disdain for African traditions. In short: Colonial Mentality.
I hope the above explanation is helpful in understanding why S/Leoneans are affected by Colonial Mentality worse than any other citizens of the former so-called British empire.
Follow Ups:
Re: HOW TO ERADICATE COLONIAL MENTALITY IN SL [PART 1] – Critical Thinker 10:54:45 12/29/05 (0)
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Math Student
To: All
Date Posted: 14:59:25 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Corruption is not the result of colonial mentality. Corrupt politicians are found in the US, Japan, China and in other countries. Corruption was born before the existence colonial mentality.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Principal
To: All
Date Posted: 15:13:43 01/04/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
CORRUPTION = BAD
COLONIAL MENTALITY = BAD
CORRUPTION + COLONIAL MENTALITY = WORSE
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Math Student
To: All
Date Posted: 15:28:47 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Furthermore,
If we divide the total negative effect into individual effects then CORRUPTION > COLONIAL MENTALITY.
If CORRUPTION = 0 but COLONIAL MENTALITY = INFINITY(+) our DEVELOPMENT = +/- even though we may have western values.
If CORRUPTION = (+) INFINITY AND COLONIAL MENTALITY = 0 our DEVELOPMENT < 0 or always -.
BEST SOLUTION: CORRUPTION = 0 COLONIAL MENTALITY= 0
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Principal
To: All
Date Posted: 16:52:54 01/04/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
Remember son that as you make life’s journey from the annals of this university to the universe,variables like colonial mentality MAY change,but unfortunately CORRUPTION WILL REMAIN A CONSTANT TO MANKIND FOREVER;
Therefore your preoccupation as future leaders will involve developing models to check the excesses of mankind.
Congratulations on your graduation and GOOD LUCK
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Bambay Lans Kamara
To: All
Date Posted: 15:01:21 01/04/06 ()
Email Address: [email protected]
Message:
Mr. Mohamed A. Jalloh, thank you for your humility. (I looked for a better word but that is what came to mind.)
Of course results of your advice to the government of Sierra Leone laud your credentials.
In your post, you outlined statistical forecast of how Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora, with the power we posses, can employ to raise wealth to salvage Sierra Leonean�s problems. Without any shade of doubt, I believe, your suggestive mechanism of raising funds is feasible However, let me remind you or connect our ineptitude to see this power, which as you are well aware, stems from not only Colonial Mentality but fear, the lack of confidence in other Sierra Leoneans because of past experiences, and basically, the same division in tribal, political and sectional line that was created on the African soil, has surfaced among us and has drawn a thicker line that prevents us from seeing this power we posses to salvage our problems.
Moreover, Sierra Leoneans have not had an opportunity whereby, trust worthy Sierra Leoneans who have proven their austerity and patriotism to Sierra Leone to lead the way in educating, mass education of our people about ourselves, the global economy and the way forward for Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora..
Individualistic interests, sectional interests, tribal interests, political interests, as I have mentioned earlier, have overshadowed national interest, the latter which is suppose to be the catalytic periphery of a people�s development at home and abroad. Hence a host of our compatriots have embarked on spending sprees or expenditures that would have been a source or sources of income for our country and country peoples abroad and at home.
I am confident that you are aware that Sierra Leoneans spend a thousand dollars a day to rent buildings for personal celebrations like marriages or what not, which had their been a focus for national interest would have allowed us to have halls within the various areas, where the concentration of Sierra Leoneans are huge � in places such as New York, Washington D.C. Florida, Atlanta, New Jersey to name a few. But please allow some members here to tell us why this is not happening? We are also quick at pushing off people�s suggestions or views for no apparent reasons but wanting to be heard at all cost or the inabilities in people to see a road map towards success.
I mentioned earlier that the lack of people taking the lead, who have no other interest but patriotic ones are not vibrantly at the forefront to educate our people. Indeed, there are other organizations: Sierra Leonean organizations that are making these strides but a host of them are not geared towards strengthening our grip on the economy here from where we are assured of generating income and readily advancing towards making development in Sierra Leone. I might be wrong in my assertion but this the way I look at it, and if there is any let someone please say so, and tell us why Sierra Leoneans pay $1,000.00 a day for the said uses. We need to be educated. I remember writing to an Editor of a Sierra Leone Internet Publication suggesting that the publication make available news and these discussions to the Sierra Leoneans abroad, so that the discussions here would not stop at the level of people that write and read it but to all Sierra Leoneans who would be informed of what goes on in Sierra Leone and who would learn the essence and or significance of contributing towards national development. I received no response but I am of the hope that somebody�s suggestions go a long way to helping the country and people we all love dearly. It does not have to be me but we. As it is our country, no one should hold monopoly over how it should be ran.
Haven said that, let me also add to your thoughtful statement that we posses powers that we are not exercising. Please explain to us that we posses the power to effect decentralization by the very method that you outlined by which we can raise money and when these monies are invested with no governmental control, the tendency to disarm governments of Sierra Leone�s monopoly on centralization is greater.
Before I call it a day, I must apologize that there was a slight misunderstanding on the issue of the �do-nothing� issue. I was taking it in the context of lethargy and failure to work not on in the context of failure to act to making our voices heard to making the necessary changes that we desire for a people. I did not make myself clear therefore, I apologise.
Subject: Re: HOW S/LEONEANS CAN EASILY REPLACE THE IMF IN SL
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 15:47:44 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Bambay Lans Kamara writes on January 04, 2006:
“As it is our country, no one should hold monopoly over how it should be ran.
Haven said that, let me also add to your thoughtful statement that we posses powers that we are not exercising. Please explain to us that we posses the power to effect decentralization by the very method that you outlined by which we can raise money and when these monies are invested with no governmental control, the tendency to disarm governments of Sierra Leone�s monopoly on centralization is greater.
Before I call it a day, I must apologize that there was a slight misunderstanding on the issue of the �do-nothing� issue.”
Bambay Lans Kamara:
As usual, your thinking is very cogent. Thank you for your gracious comments. Please be assured that there is no need for you to apologize for your perception of my statement ascribing blame to ordinary S/Leoneans for failing to exercise their God-given right to self-determination, within the law.
Like you, I am now calling it a day. I hope to catch up with you and others here tomorrow. Kindly accept my congratulations for your amply demonstrated clarity of thought.
Subject: TODAY’S QUOTE
From: WISE ONE
To: All
Date Posted: 10:12:14 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
1/4/2006
Today’s Quote
A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.
-Hugh Downs
Subject: A REFUGEE IN ENGLAND – STUDIED FOR 12 YEARS AND I HAVE YET..
From: Chez Winakabs Europe
To: All
Date Posted: 08:49:22 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
BE ASKED TO PAY TUITION FEES.
Do others in our similar circumstances get such facilities? We have to learn to respect a man’s tact and learn to forge tactful paths for ourselves. This idea of disorganising progressive minds confuses me. We cannot even remember our forefathers and their works; yet we complain. Will the Romans curse the Anglosaxon for rebelling? Will the Anglosaxon curse the English for their change of heart to have their own language and formulate a kingdom? Let us understand the temporality of life and the dynamics of time and space. Nothing remains the same! How do we better ourselves in these changing worlds? That is my question everyday!
Subject: FELA: Colonial Mentality: listen on a Real Player
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 04:39:46 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
More to come on the subject
Subject: Re: FELA: Colonial Mentality: listen on a Real Player
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 08:32:26 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Another Nigerian who used to have a web page on Liberating the “African ” mind (zapped through that in 2003)
Subject: Re: FELA: Colonial Mentality: listen on a Real Player
From: Cornelius Hamelberg
To: All
Date Posted: 08:54:34 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Yet another readable Nigerian………
The problem cannot be confined to Africa and Africa’s Diasporas……it exists in Europe too…..but being Afrocentric even in the Afrocentric love for the Mercedes Benz ( Wa-Benzies – as they are called in Kenya)as I am about to wire up old Bang & Olufsen with a Sennheiser headphone to listen to pure sounds of the latest Kofi Olomide….
Trust me:
As the Jewish sage Hillel remarked, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am for myself only, what am I? And if not now, when? ”
Subject: COLONIAL MENTALITY: THE CATALYST FOR AFRICA’S POVERTY
From: Mohamed A. Jalloh
To: All
Date Posted: 04:14:40 01/04/06 ()
Email Address:
Message:
Chez Winakabs Europe wrote on January 03, 2006:
“take our mangoes and oranges for instance, we in the tropics only see them during the mango and orange season. In the west you can buy these products 24/7, throughout the year. Why can they do that and we cannot?”
Chez Winakabs Europe:
You pose an eminently cogent question which has a surprisingly simple answer, namely: Colonial Mentality.
The plain truth, sadly, is that as long as a significant majority of Africans continues to believe that anyone and everything foreign is inherently superior to anyone and everything African, for no other reason than their respective racial origins, Africa will always lag behind the West in ideas and actions. And, therefore, in human development.
This is because, as I wrote nearly five years ago (see the link I provide below): “Naturally, whosoever authors the ideas that shape the world is way ahead of those others who have to first learn those ideas before figuring out how to compete within those ideas.”
It is that simple.
This is why the greatest challenge facing Africa today in its quest to solve its notorious conundrum — pervasive poverty in the midst of pervasive riches — is to understand WHY and HOW a continent, and a people, so abundantly blessed with natural resources, nevertheless wallow in abject poverty while foreigners arriving in their midst become fabulously wealthy off those same resources.
In my humble opinion, as I have consistently maintained since 1979, the only rational explanation for this pathetic spectacle is a testament to the historic virulence of Western European public immorality. Specifically, over the past 500 years, Africans have been led by immoral Europeans to believe that they are NOT as endowed as their fellow human beings. As a result, the typical Africans so afflicted have been reduced to a regressive mental state wherein they uniformly look NOT to themselves to improve their lives — as any rational person would — but to foreigners.
Once this crucial point is understood, it becomes very easy to see why only an African would look to Westerners to convert his raw materials, such as oranges, into a high-value end product, such as out-of-season oranges and orange juice which then becomes available not just during the orange season, but throughout the year. In order to obtain a detailed explanation of how Colonial Mentality guarantees that Africa will always lag behind Westerners, please see the link below to my nearly five-year old writing.
Which leads me to your final question. You asked, in reference to the fact that while Westerners have ensured year-long supplies of mangoes and oranges, we Africans generally have not done so: “Is it our natural complacency?”
Answer: No, it is not, as I respectfully show below:
It is plain that the same Africans who constructed the marvels of engineering in Zimbabwe (see the Image URL attached below [http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Classroom/9912/greatzimbabwe.html) — “ruins [that] extend a radius of 100 to 200 miles, a diameter almost as great as the entire nation of France. Believed to have been built by southern Africans about 600-1,000 years ago, they are evidence of a thriving culture in the heart of Africa” — and built the great empires of Mali, Songhai, and Ghana, can hardly be classed as complacent in nature.
On the contrary, those accomplishments point to the fact that Africans are not complacent in nature, at all, but given to an inquiring mind and a zest to build a better future for themselves and their children. At least, they were — until their continent, and much more importantly, their minds, were insidiously invaded by Western Europeans hell bent on massively enriching themselves overnight.
It is that fatal encounter which laid the foundation for the transformation of the erthswhile self-sufficient, proficient and accomplished African into the helpless, Western-worshiping, caricature that we all recognize as the typical African today. The process by which the marauding Europeans accomplished this remaking of the once proud African into a do-nothing-without-Western-direction zombie, should now be thoroughly familiar to you — Colonial Mentality.
The initial act in this vile and immoral process was the Atlantic slave trade that was conceived and perpetrated by pillaging and plundering Europeans against our African ancestors. Colonialism — the cynical and no less immoral successor to the genocide committed by Europeans when they enslaved millions of Africans over a 400-year period — was the second act. The cumulative effect of more than 500-years of such methodical oppression, suppression, and brainwashing of millions of Africans is now there for all to see, namely: Africans living in abject poverty among foreigners who live in fabulous wealth derived from the mentally emasculated Africans’ own land and other natural resources.
Therefore, in my humble opinion, unless and until we Africans understand that process, and how immoral Europeans transformed erthswhile accomplished Africans of five centuries ago into today’s regressive Africans who beg foreigners for ideas, food, clothing, and shelter, we would regain our glorious heritage only by pure statistical accident.
And that has not happened even once in the past 500 years.
