Gainako Newspaper

.....................HOPE FOR “BUMSTERS”
.........................By Amie Sanneh, Foroyaa Newspaper..............Posted January 5th, 2007

To address the issue of “bumsters”, a multi-faceted project for their upkeep is said to be underway.In
an interview with the brain behind the project, Ousman Kebbeh, said this project, which is expected to
start in January, is meant to train youths who were repatriated on skills as waiters or waitresses, guides,
drivers.

He said he came up with this project to help the bumsters because the “bumster” phenomenon has long
been an obstacle to the national problem of investment in the tourism sector in the country, which they
want to address. He added that tourists complain a lot about the hassle and harassment they sometimes
receive from “bumsters.”

Mr. Kebbeh pointed out that this harassment they receive from “bumsters” is contained in a survey they
conducted recently. He said 67 percent of tourists said they would never come back to The Gambia.
“It is a high percentage which is driving me into the project in order to help them,” said Mr. Kebbeh.
He, however, revealed that some of the bumsters have good certificates but that job opportunities are
lacking.

“Each bumster has a dream and they want to help their families settle down. That is why we have to help
them and stop describing them as criminals,” he posited. The criteria of this project, Mr. Kebbeh
revealed will include a national Identity card and a certificate of character from the police . This, he noted,
will help
them not to involve any criminal in their project. He said this first project will mainly deal with the positive
ones and that plans are underway to involve the negative ones. “We want to gain credibility in this
project,” he said.

Mr. Kebbeh revealed that in 1999 he conducted a similar survey which was a success and the youths
involved are now absorbed by the Department of Tourism as official tourist guides. Mr. Kebbeh called
on all to make this project a success. He also urged the tourism industry to employ those who have
undergone the training in their industry.

...........THE PLIGHT OF A GAMBIAN YOUTH
Poverty and lack of employment are killing the youths more than the bullet can do. The youths prefer to
die than live in shame for being treated like thrash by their families due to the fact that they cannot
contribute financially to a family that quite often lives from hand to mouth. They are ready to go against
the tide and scale all heights in order to make a living.

A youth narrated his experience to this reporter thus: “I went to school up to Grade 9. My father who is a
farmer was unable to finance my senior secondary school education. I therefore had to drop at Grade 9
not because of poor academic performance but to poverty that engulfed the family. I joined my father at
the farm. After working at the farm for many years, which only enabled us to live from hand to mouth
without a future, I decided to travel in search of greener pastures.

I was able to obtain a passport but not a visa for any European country. I have been duped by people
who claimed that they could help me to acquire a visa. I lost thousands of dalasis in that adventure. In the
month of July this year, I was told by a friend of the opportunity of going to Europe without a visa. The
friend explained the opportunity of sailing to Europe by boat at a relatively cheap price.

After discussing with the people in charge of the boats, I sold my watermelon farm at a give away price
since the melons were premature at that time. We embarked the boat and left the country in September.
We were forty in the boat; most of us were Gambians and Senegalese. We sailed for eight days without
reaching our destination. Later we were told by the Captain that we were lost. He said he could not make
out where we were. We were all concerned we asked ourselves “What next?” - a question that was
never answered.

On the 11th day we found ourselves in Senegal. At Senegal, we disembarked from the boat, went in
town to buy food since our provisions were exhausted. When we came back, we could neither see the
boat nor the Captain. We were in a dilemma. We had to find our way back to The Gambia. Presently,
my dream of travelling has not come true; I lost my melon farm.”

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