Gainako Newspaper

Gainako's co-editor, Yero Jallow was the keynote speaker at a graduation party in Minnesota on May 19th 2007.

In the opening chapter, Ms. Amie Dibba, 2006/7 beauty peagnant winner, who chaired the gathering saluted a
friend of high calibre for her achievement. "I am proud to be here. Lets give a round-up-applause to Nyaha." she
happily noted.

The graduate, Ms. Mam Nyaha Jome was crowned a qualified LPN. The program well attended was graced by
many including Mr. Lang Dibba, former President of the Gambian Association in Minnesota, former Rtd. Major
Ann, Mr. Lamin Dibba, Current Vice President of the Gambian Association in Minnesota, Mr. Pateh Baldeh,
Senior RN with the University of Minnesota, and Mr. Dodou Jome, former Parliamentarian in Nuimi Jokadu.

The program was covered by photo-journalist, Mr. Ebrima Touray and music provided by famous Minnesota DJ,
Lamin Jagne aka Bless.

Below we reproduce the whole speech delivered by Co-editor Jallow.

............A SPEECH AT A GRADUATION
........Prepared & delivered by Yero Jallow. May 19th 2007, Minnesota, USA.

I feel delighted for the opportunity yet another time to be the speaker of ceremony
of my Serer family. Like the famous musician, Baba Maal once said "Diyam wawih
jaigol. Ghiteh noh Gharih Serer." –meaning, in any battle between water and
fire, water is the victor. The eyes are flashing like a Serer's bull." My Serers knows
that the Fulas are the masters, and today I ask them to give me a bowl full of chakri,
Chereh and milk.

I start by congratulating the graduate; Ms. Mam Nyaha Jome who after years of hard work
graduated with a LPN (Licensee Practical Nurse). I congratulate her for this great achievement. I
humbly ask the august-gathering to give her a round-up-applause. Bravo Ms. Jome! Jokingly, we
ask her to look after the sick, the suffering and the tired. We ask her to show love, care and
empathy to the sick. We ask her to utilize what she learnt and transmit such useful knowledge to
succeeding generations. We ask her to show responsibility to a noble career like nursing, for we
know that's where the big bucks are. (Laugh!)

At this juncture, I would like to share with you all a poem authored by an American resident of
Pennsylvania by the name of Mr. Joseph P. Renaldi. Mr. Renaldi's poem reflects on a graduation
day, echoing the success after the many challenges in school. The poem is beautifully written, and to
my admiration, I decided to share its greatness with you. I humbly ask to be excused, because I
don't sing the poem like Freaky Joe or Amie Dibba, but I can still narrate the words to you. Are you
all ready?

Graduation Day

Graduation Day is the climax of a dream.
A parental dream that began when a child is born,
And their hope come true it would seem,
A triumph held after periods of forlorn,
A feeling of pride and euphoria years away
For a daughter or son - Graduation Day.

It is a peak of success for the graduate,
Not only for the graduate but parents too.
A joyful event after many years they had to wait,
Realizing the glorious thrill of a dream come true,
A genuine smile accompanied by a deep sigh,
Often a handkerchief in hand as the class goes by.

Graduation is a deserving, hard earned goal
With mortarboard and gown as foretold,
A gratifying service of the mind and soul
In a simple and beautiful sheepskin told
That the graduate fulfilled the educational rule.
At last, for the mother and father, a dream come true.
Graduation Day!

Joseph T. Renaldi

This is the end of the great poem by Joseph T Renaldi. I hope you all like it?

To the parents of the graduate, Mr. Dodou Jome, former parliamentarian in Nuimi Jokadu, and his
wife, Auntie Mrs. YaJay Jome, I commend you both for the good role of parenthood. Two years
ago, you accorded me the same honor during the graduation of your other two daughters, Tuti and
Yama. It is an indisputable fact that bringing up a child is no easy job, because therein lies the
responsibility of feeding, sheltering, clothing, educating and all the other basic amenities that a
growing child may need. That wasn't an easy work. To you today are proud parents over promising
children, graduating one at a time. I hope your children will emulate you, and be a source of
insurance for old age for you at a later time in life. I look forward to answering to your call any time,
though the later invitation came late to me, and it didn't leave me with any choice. I wish I was only
here today as the Fula man of the Serers, dancing, and moving around like any member of the
audience. But in anyways, I thank you for the repeated honor and trust. May God spare your lives
for me. Amen. You will be excused this time around by agreeing to bow down before all the Fulas.
Now, I see you laughing.

Today is another day, a day to reflect on the struggle of humanity. The struggle to be someone; the
struggle to be educated; the struggle to be beneficial in society, and the struggle to give back to
society what you owe it. It's not all about how much money you can make from your profession, but
how much service you can render to a nation like our great world. This is a milestone achievement.
Make sure you guard it with care. Going to school is not only for paper degrees or certificates. It is
for one to develop their mental wellbeing, and to be able to utilize such knowledge in practical form
in society. We all must endeavor to go to school, though understandable of the obstacles that barred
many smart ones from achieving their dreams. Age should never post a barrier in this endeavor.

So ladies & Gentlemen,

Education goes with morality. The great mentor and former Principal of Gambia High School, Mr.
Willie E Carr always stressed that "Education without morality is useless." Therefore, lets exercise
decency, respect, honor, responsibility and patronize everyone in the society-the sick, the suffering,
the homeless, the disabled, the lame, the educated and all other categories of people. Such
humbleness is demonstrated in the prayer rows when Muslims converge to prayer in congregation.
There is no difference among those in rows. We know coffee without sugar is tasteless, so many
consider education without morality in that vein and I greatly share that sentiment.

So ladies & Gentlemen,

This world of ours is not all about drinking, eating and going to sleep. We belong to a nation, and we
are the people of that nation. That means we have to render our quota of service to the community.
The community needs you. The Gambia needs you. America needs you, and the whole world for
that matter needs you, just like you need the community yourself. Do what is within your limits to
help your local community. Helping your community is a great virtue. Whether you are young or
elderly, you should render your quota of service without fear or favor.

So ladies & Gentlemen,

Don't forget where you came from, for as the old adage goes, "If you don't know where you come
from, you will never know where you are heading to." Another adage adds: "No matter how long a
stick stays in water, it will never be a crocodile." So render your service, little or big, to your country
of birth, the Gambia, and the nation, America, where you live, for it is only fair you pay back to your
first and second home the good bestowed on you .

So Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is only good to be honest and fair. Please don't abuse your knowledge. Use it in the best of ways.
Don't ever be like those military cowards, or those dishonest intellectuals who came praising the
gods and the God, dine with the devils and wolves at night, and during the day laugh with the sheep
and the doves. Such is a rotten palaver. Those military idiots are far from being the patriots of our
nation. Their service to our world is worthless, and they represent nothing but evil. Our world
deserves better leaders. Not the world leaders dwelling on terror, corruption, nepotism, and oozing
the bloods of decent humanity. That is not right. They come to power with little or no knowledge,
seat themselves comfortably on the pillars of tyranny, and abuse power with all the magnitude of
arrogance and bigotry. Those world devils deserve no good, no good, not even a niche of good.

So to the graduate and the rest of the audience here tonight, I wish you all good look. I like the
smiles, and respect and honor rendered to me by this great long-serving community of ours. I
promise to share the sorrows and the happiness at all times. Those that want me to participate in
their programs are welcome to call on me at any time. This is a call of duty, and I will answer
anytime when duty calls. Like the great philosopher, Hon. Halifa Sallah said," There is no turning
back." Me too, there is no turning back in sharing your sorrows and your happiness. I humbly ask
God to help me keep this promise now, and until the time that God will take my soul.

I say to you all:

Al-ning-wurara (Mandinka)
Nyu-fahnan Jammah (Wollof)
Safoosaf (Jola)
Jam-hirih (Pullar)
Good night (English)

Thanks you! Thank you! Thank you!

..........THE GAMBIA
...TREASON CONVICTS CHALLENGE VERDICT
...................By Bubacarr K. Sowe & Emil Touray, Foroyaa Newspaper .....May 26th, 2007

The ten military officers, who were convicted in April on treason charges,
by a Court Martial, have filed an appeal at the Gambia Court of Appeal.
Lamin Camara and Neneh Cham-Chongan, Counsels for Captain Pierre
John Mendy, Captain Abdoukarim Jah, Captain Bunja Darboe, Lieutenant
Momodou Alieu Bah, Private Alagie Nying and Lance Corporal Babou
Janha have filed their appeals last week.

Borry Touray, counsel for Captain Yaya Darboe has also filed an appeal on
behalf of the convict almost three weeks ago.

Lamin Mboge, counsel for Corporal Samba Bah and Lieutenant Pharing
Sanyang also confirmed that he has filed appeals on the duo’s behalf some
weeks ago. Mboge refuted claims that he has withdrawn his representation
for his clients.

Lamin Jobarteh, Counsel for Captain Wassa Camara could not be reached for comments. The ten
convicts were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment by a Court Martial at the Yundum
Military Barracks on April 19, 2007 following a six months trial for their alleged involvement in a
plot to overthrow the government on March 21st, 2006.

Four of them who were sentenced to life imprisonment are Captain Bunja Darboe, Captain Wassa
Camara, Captain Yaya Darboe and Second Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang.

Two of them who were jailed for twenty five years are Captain Abdoukarim Jah and Lieutenant
Momodou Alieu Bah.

The remaining four convicts, all of whom received ten years jail terms, are Captain Pierre John
Mendy, Corporal Samba Bah, Lance Corporal Babou Janha and Private Alagie Nying.

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