Saffron Terror
Anyone with a little common sense would know what the phrase means. Just watched a debate on NDTV (Barkha Dutt hosting We The People) with a host of intellects, dodos and politicians dissecting P Chidambarams sedate comment on the growth of Hindutva idealogy based terror. Rather than debate the growing and obvious 'terror', the discussion raged on getting the Congress partys immaculate Abhishek Singhvi to 'dress-down' the spotlessly white dhoti clad Home Ministers use of the word saffron. Isn't it ridiculuous that 8 odd celebrities were deliberating the usage of words rather than chart a way forward. It took a closing remark from a viewer to get Barkha Dutt to declare the debate closed.
I see this terror, whether the Saffron(Hindutva), Green(Islamist) Red(Maoist), or White(the old Ku Klux), all stemming from the same root - disharmony on Religion and Race. I've used this as my status on Facebook and the more I see these debates, believe that Religion is the root cause of most of today's terror. Religion on a public platform is the root cause and thus the breeding ground of Communal disharmony and hatred. And Communal hatred is the birthplace of an extremism that leads to terror.
The Solution : Keep Religion private and you will find that Terrorism itself will find fewer recruits. The task is tough if not impossible as Religion is also the biggest industry today.
The Industry : Religion has far out run any other successful business in its longevity and of course in its profitability. Any corporate would love to have a business that can be a patch or shade on the business of religion.
What makes Religion profitable? The product most often is in thought - in the head! In belief.
The Product is Tax Free - Virtually every income is free from any levy. Every sale is free from levies.
Sales persons are free recruits who live off the proceeds and are not very demanding ( of course until you reach the higher echelons - but all earning is proportionate to sales proceeds)
With a few millions being born every day, the clientele of this business is never ending. Each Religion is guaranteed more clients - and far quicker than those perishing.
Here I seem to have digressed. But the point Ive been trying to make is that Religion, with its ever abundant coffers, as well as with the vast following, could be the best tool against terrorism. With the resourses they have, religious leaders could stop the mayhem. However, they seem to thrive in it, as deeper conviction in a religious thought leads to extremism and this leads to an ownership and thus the need to protect it. And today, thanks to people like George Bush - 'protection' is to defend with arms and attack the enemy as far from home as possible. Thus spread the thought of hatred (instead of love), spread your armies (instead of your arms) and go and defend by destroying. This is the real colour of Terror - whether Red, Saffron, Green or White.
As I write this blog, an idiot in the US - purporting to be a messenger of God ( the WHite Kind) is going to attempt to burn the Koran which he feels is responsible for the terror unleashed on Americans on September 11th a few years ago. He will inflame an already inflamed religion, no doubt, kindled by extremists ( like the book burner himself) - and this will lead to more mayhem. Its time to become colour blind and make Religion private - off the streets and off the airwaves as well. If television ignored him, this would have been a non starter. Giving Religion a platform to spread messages of hatred once again - will increase the spread of these forms of terrorism.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
FRIENDS
FRIENDS - the proverbial serial on Television - Everyones favourite - On how a group of youngsters share accomodation and many other things in their lives - And as you watch each episode - you look at the humour of their friendship - each episode is actually about the mis-trust, the jealousy, the trials and tribulations of their daily life together.
Doesn't it astound you - that though they are "friends" - they have nothing but problems between them.
And is this what it is in real life too?
Each of us have had many friendships in life. Some like cement, have weathered the years and we take if for granted that the bonding will remain. But the closer you examine these long weathering friendships, they are enduring time because the sense of closeness has never trespassed inner boundaries. They have never taken the friendship for granted. That too is a Catch 22. Onlty the closest of friends can take liberties, but the moment you take liberties, the closeness goes. The solution is probably to give liberties and not take them?
When I look at my life, I can list the number of friends with whom I can take liberties. Yet even in those friendships, if I did cross a certain line, am sure that would be the end of the closeness of that friendship.
Keeping one's friends means respecting their boundaries and not yours. And if we cannot do this then the freindship was not destined to endure.
Being a friend does not mean just being together at every juncture and sitting at the same table and spending every evening together. It means that you can count on someone when you need. And if either friend is unable to express himself or his or her difficulty - then the friendship is superficial. It does not mean that the friendship does not exist. But it means that it was a friendship of convenience - which in itself is not bad. In fact the serial 'Friends' is exactly that. More contrived out of convenience rather than the kind of live long friendship that we are possibly looking for.
Losing a friendship is worse. Its always easy creating a divide. Getting together is the tough part. And when egoes get in the way then its never easy to make up.
We've lost some friends along the way - some you regret and some you don't. I've found it very strange that the closer the friends were, the more aggressive and violent the separation. Extreme sentiments either way - in the bonding as well as in the breaking.
Thinking back - given a choice - I'd rather have mellow friendships of the convenient kind as well as of the bonding kind - but certainly without the 'Yeh Dosti'* kind of extreme bonding.
Extreme bonding needs extreme sacrifice - and the CATCH 22 is that it could mean sacrificing the friendship to maintain it!!
Ram
Banjul in an extremely pensive mood
* "Yeh Dosti" - Hindi - Means "This Friendship" referring to an extreme friendship - Is a Popular Film Song from a film"Sholay" about two robin hood like crooks who are very close friends - willing to sacrifice virtually anything - even their lives - for the friend.
Quite a few 'friends' who follow my blog have called me asking "Why this suddenly emotional outburst on friendship?" "Have you been hurt?" And the answer is Ofcourse. Every expression of emotion is triggered. Who the trigger and what the trigger is not important. As we learn our lessons in life, we emote - leaving trails as we move on. But the deeper I think of it, the more Im convinced that the problem as well as its solution lies within me!
Doesn't it astound you - that though they are "friends" - they have nothing but problems between them.
And is this what it is in real life too?
Each of us have had many friendships in life. Some like cement, have weathered the years and we take if for granted that the bonding will remain. But the closer you examine these long weathering friendships, they are enduring time because the sense of closeness has never trespassed inner boundaries. They have never taken the friendship for granted. That too is a Catch 22. Onlty the closest of friends can take liberties, but the moment you take liberties, the closeness goes. The solution is probably to give liberties and not take them?
When I look at my life, I can list the number of friends with whom I can take liberties. Yet even in those friendships, if I did cross a certain line, am sure that would be the end of the closeness of that friendship.
Keeping one's friends means respecting their boundaries and not yours. And if we cannot do this then the freindship was not destined to endure.
Being a friend does not mean just being together at every juncture and sitting at the same table and spending every evening together. It means that you can count on someone when you need. And if either friend is unable to express himself or his or her difficulty - then the friendship is superficial. It does not mean that the friendship does not exist. But it means that it was a friendship of convenience - which in itself is not bad. In fact the serial 'Friends' is exactly that. More contrived out of convenience rather than the kind of live long friendship that we are possibly looking for.
Losing a friendship is worse. Its always easy creating a divide. Getting together is the tough part. And when egoes get in the way then its never easy to make up.
We've lost some friends along the way - some you regret and some you don't. I've found it very strange that the closer the friends were, the more aggressive and violent the separation. Extreme sentiments either way - in the bonding as well as in the breaking.
Thinking back - given a choice - I'd rather have mellow friendships of the convenient kind as well as of the bonding kind - but certainly without the 'Yeh Dosti'* kind of extreme bonding.
Extreme bonding needs extreme sacrifice - and the CATCH 22 is that it could mean sacrificing the friendship to maintain it!!
Ram
Banjul in an extremely pensive mood
* "Yeh Dosti" - Hindi - Means "This Friendship" referring to an extreme friendship - Is a Popular Film Song from a film"Sholay" about two robin hood like crooks who are very close friends - willing to sacrifice virtually anything - even their lives - for the friend.
Quite a few 'friends' who follow my blog have called me asking "Why this suddenly emotional outburst on friendship?" "Have you been hurt?" And the answer is Ofcourse. Every expression of emotion is triggered. Who the trigger and what the trigger is not important. As we learn our lessons in life, we emote - leaving trails as we move on. But the deeper I think of it, the more Im convinced that the problem as well as its solution lies within me!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Crooked Cashewnut
The Cashew Nut and its Kernel within has a crooked shape, and thus it's business too is never straight. We know that he doesn't mean that it is a 'crooked' or shady business, but that simple and straighforward business rules never seem to apply. Market trends of this crop show little or no logic.
The African Cashew value chain moves from within Africa to India to the Consuming markets in the US & Europe.
In brief the chain consists of :-
- Plantation / Farmers ( be it wild, public orchards or organized private plantations),
- Traders ( Could be either plastic mug traders, bicycle traders, donkey cart traders, gele-gele* traders, pick-up traders, truck traders or warehouse traders - basically referring to the size of their trading capacity)
- Exporters ( the serious ones in the trade, year after year, or those profit searching - fly by night operators looking for a quck buck, or the pure currency champions - looking for export currency earning to balance their import exchange rates)
- Processors -Either Local or International, Either the mug/backyard processor or the non conventional bag by bag processor or the industiral - small, medium to large processor)
- Distributors/Marketeers & Consumers ( of the finished product)
Each one of the above - deals with this crooked nut - with not much of an idea of what actually influences prices of the raw material or the finished products.
The parameters that dictate raw material prices could be varied and most often external factors
Prices and Availability of Raw Material in India - This is a distant 'GOD' like parameter. This parameter is always there, around you - can't see it, cant touch it - but if affects you. Traders and Brokers of the raw material call to say that India is short or long (not referring to anyones height for sure - but whether the raw material will be enough in India or not). If India is short, prices could go up or down and if India is Long, prices could go up or down!
The Weather in India, East Africa, West Africa or in Asia. A good monsoon in some places means a good crop( Prices could go up), but could also mean poor drying and thus poor quality (Prices could go Down).
Ivory Coast : No ivory trade here but IVC has just become the single largest hyper market for raw nuts. 400,000MT in one single country. Thus turbulence (not the flying kind) can affect markets. If IVC has tremors (not the Earthshaking type), buyers rush to Guinea Bissau, Senegal and The Gambia (since we're the next stop for the Raw material buying train (explained later). Thus IVC with its low outturn, wet crop plays king-pin in determining prices in the last stop before Tanzania.
Diwali, Christmas & New Year : Festival time is when people want to eat Cashews. Thus October/November in India and December in the US is when everyone wants their kernels for the sweets and Cakes. Raw material availability well in advance to meet these festival requirements plays a role. If a processor is short he pays more. If he is long, he pays less!!!
Vietnam : the fastest growing and most innovative processing nation. Vietnam buys and India cries. Indian processors have never in the past been challenged when sourcing raw nuts is concerned - never, until Vietnam pushed its way into making it a success story. If vietnamese buy, markets change. When they sell - markets change. When they default (which is what they're getting to do quite well and thus makes them virtual jokers in this crooked nut game) - markets change. And none of this is visible to the ordinary trader. Boom - a market surge or collapse hits you before you can figure out how the Vietnamese say Ni-hao!!
The Gulf & Afghanistan Wars : When the US and Europe get into hard fought battles, whether or not they provide weary battle hardened warriors with Almonds, Pistachios or Cashewnuts - affects the kernel industry and thus the raw material trade as well. However the problem is that raw material trade has happened about 60-90 days before those kernels are sold and thus one has no control over price at that moment. Whe the US goes to war, it would help if they let the raw cashew traders know a few months in advance - whether they would continue to buy kernels as nutrition for troops!
The US Economy and Recession : This has done funny things to the crooked nut. While the US dropped purchases durng the recession, they actually bought more cashew kernels because prices dropped becasue of the recession - and since they bought more, prices went up . And since there was a recession, prices went down. and so on and so forth. If Alan Greenspan had been a little less liberal, we could have had a square cashew kernel and not a curved crooked one.
The Indian Marriage and Childrens Act : should have stipulated the quantity of Caju kathili (a diamond shaped sweet made purely from Cashew butter and sugar) each marriage and birth of a child was entitled to for distribution. The quantity of cashew brokens and bits consumed in India determines the preferred origin of the raw material. Origins which have smaller grades or tougher nuts to process - have more brokens and this sometimes pushes the demand for weaker origins. India being the largest consumer of cashew has a large influence on this crooked nut.
Education, Religion and Entertainment : In a similar vein an Education Bill should also dictate distribution terms of Caju Kathili on occassions when Indias close to 500 Million children successfully pass Examinations year after year. Tirupathi and other religious boards should have determinable quotas too for Cashew bits and pieces used in Laddoos & Prasad (the religious offerings). Entertainment Bars, Restaurants serving Cashew snacks too - If we were able to determine the above Marriage, Education, Religious and Entertainment usage of Cashew bits - we could have a much better idea on stocks and requirements in India.
Bill and Melinda Gates and the ACA & IRD : Many years after Vasco da Gama brought this crooked nut to India and Africa, the pundits in the US (through the USDA and USAID) decided to take some credit for popularising the nut. They either genuinely believed or initially convinced Africa that India was actually exploiting Africa by taking away its raw material. The primary reason for African raw material production to have boomed from a meagre 50 Thousand Metric Tonnes to a whopping 800,000 Metric Tonnes was conveniently forgotten. This was not becasue of a boom in local processing, and neither because of a US Department of Agriculture presence, but because of a simple boom in population, weddings and children getting through school in India!! Consumption in India has driven processing in India. Currently processors in Africa, due to the multitude of other inefficiencies, are unable to pay growers a competitive price for the raw nuts. African processors have to compete with Vietnam and India on the kernels. Though the apparent earning of Foreign Exchange is slightly higher when a country Processes kernels and successfully exports it, it is essential to understand that unless the factory is efficient and self sustainable, they will not be able to pay the producer a better price. Thus the NGOs step in subsidise the crop, set up a factory only to help it close once the subsidy goes. The report presented is that that they have successfully added value to the product and they get the Kudos of the Development World. This has a reverse action on the markets and - to satisfy their egoes that they now add value to the product. They take away value from a farmer and give it to a processor and the nation. The Farmer feeds the nation literally!! Processing of the Crooked nut in Africa will be a success one day - when Africa consumes its lower grades or finds a market for it. When finance and energy are available at competitive rates. When the middle class and consumers grow.Till then it will be the NGOs and AID organisations that will claim moral successes in adding value to the chains. Hypermarkets and Supermarkets will promote fairtrade only to move the value addition benefits to a few farmers, while the gross margins and national development will be at the cost of the farmer - the Farmer of the crooked nut!
Currency Exchange: The Euro and the Dollar dance a different tune. The Dollar and the Ruppee dance the Samba. West African sourcing is primarily done in Euro linkd CFAs. Stronger Dollar is good for Exporters buying in Euros and Selling in US$ and this pushes raw material prices higher. A stronger Dollar is bad for Indian/Vietnamese importers of Raw Nuts and thus pushes buying prices lower. An exporter from India likes a strong Dollar. Thus there lies another crooked mismatch!!
Shipping : The Corporate situation of Maersk and Delmas. If AP Moeller has a change of management policy that they so often have or if Vincent Bollore sees a better opportunity in China - Freight changes affect both the raw material prices and the kernel prices as well. A change of shipping route affects the quality and thus the prices too.
Elections in Bissau : For some unfathomable reason, the governemnt of Guinea Bissau always manages to hold its Assembly, Presidential or every other Elections (or power transition event) during the peak of the Cashew Season. Thus lending a twist of uncertainity to International availability of Bissaus much sought after raw nut. A delay in shipments from Bissau normally pushes market prices up. But delayed shipments means full warehouses and thus a lowering of prices in Bissau. And overflowing warehouses means lack of Cash turnaround and thus even more lower prices. Overflowing warehouses also indicate poor storage conditions for crop in the bush as well as in the warehouse and thus likely deterioraiton of quality - and thus even lower prices. All while overseas prices and demand goes up... Would you buy or sell?
In fact POLITICS in Bissau too affects world prices. Several Ministers and everyone who has a say in Government also has a say in the Private sector through a Chamber. Export duties , and general relaxing of personal activities results in calm
Rice prices : Rice is a barter item for Cashews and normally is a 1 bag for 1 bag. Thus irrespective of Kernel markets, at times a shortage in rice sends the Raw nut prices sky rocketing in Bissau - and by the time the kernel market corrects itself to this anomaly, a fuddled cashew trader is stuck with overpriced stocks.
The Bangladesh Jute Weavers Association : Strangely, when these guys go on strike or go slower on deliveries, Jute bag prices double or delay shipments of the raw cshewnuts - and thus could affect our already confused cashew trader!!
The Icing to the Cake of Factors influencing this Crooked nut are the Crooked Rumour Mongers!! Twenty four phone calls a day and they successfully move markets up or down - Momentarily, no doubt - but enough to twist buying and selling of a twisted nut. These mongers complement another distasteful breed -"One bag Speculator Buyers" - who meander into markets, buy a single bag at twice the normal price and say that they'll come back for the rest. The rumours spread that a benvolent buyer is there. The saviour has come! And all selling stops! The whole market waits days for the return of their new found benefactor. The serious buyer goes away dejected and losing money and patience. The unsuspecting trader waits a lifetime. Markets change. The trader is desperate and sells at a loss to the partner of the One Bag speculator. This modus operandi is quite popular with fly by night operators.
The Cashew Club of Kollam : Am sure they will dispute this - but discussions held in the exclusive bar of the exclusive Cashew Club in Kollam can make paradigm shifts in kernel and raw nut trade. A few whispers inbetween a few sips of some of the best distillates available, in any venue that members of this august club meet, cause Tsunami like reactions - waves and troughs that resemble the crooked curves of this tasty nut.
The Pundits : Not the pony-tailed, forehead striped religious types here. The experts who know how to predict the futures of this Crop. The very intellignet Gujarathi or Sindhi - new in the business but already expert types or the seasoned Malayalee or the American kernel trader - everyone knows what everyone doesnt know. And what they say doesnt mean anythng - but it changes the way the market behaves.
The West & East Africa Integration Ploicy : Traders of raw material in East Africa migrate to participate in the trading season in West Africa and Like wise Traders from West are setting up bases in East Africa - thus with this cross cultural interface - free flow of buying practices - influence the Cashew buying train around africa.
The Cashew Buying Train : India has perfected the art of year round sourcing in a unique manner. Dec/Jan - meets the end of the East African and Indoneisian season and buyers buy local crop in India . In Feb/march they reach West Africas armpit in Nigeria, move westward to Benin/Ghana and then to the hypermarket Ivory Coast. The Gambia, Senegal and Bissua from April, May to August are the next destinations of this group of predominant Malayalee inspectors and thier mixed breed of traders/businessmen. Malayalees, Gujarathis, Karnatakaites, Andhra-ites, Maharashtrians, Tamilians, Punjabis and more recently Oriyas.... The list of trader origins is endless. The train then moves back to East Africa and Indonesia for Nov/Dec/Jan and then the cycle continues. .
Labour : Kollam, the bastion of processing for many years - now resonates with many languages. On my last trip, was surprised to hear several groups speaking bengali, marathi, oriya....labourers - migrant workers have lent another angle to processing prices. New labourers work for lesser but are inefficient at processing smaller kernels. Thus a Senegalese origin processor loses labourers and Tanzanian origin gets cheaper abundant labourers.
Cholestrol - Good & Bad : The current fight between the Almond board and the Cashew Export Promotion Council may have winners and losers. But the presence of Cholestrol in the argument - helps keep the price of kernels fluctuating.
FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE THE TRADE AND PRICES IN THE FUTURE :
Does Water exist on the Moon : Put together with the fact that Malayalees are the first to migrate anywhere and if there exists water on the Moon, then we can have a corner Nair shop as well as grow cashew trees on the Moon. This will grossly change the way Cashew business is done in the future.
China : With the speed and efectiveness Chinese are multiplying overseas (The Chinese Govt has a ban on Chinese multiplying at home - max ONE CHILD Policy - But encourages growing chinese influence overseas by either exporting citizens in bulk to virgin Africa or by turning a blind eye to the One Child policy for Overseas residents - as long as they dont inist on Chinese nationality for their overseas biologically increasing numbers) - It will be not long before Chinese will get into the Raw nut trade (NOT LONG... Infact it's begun!!! A dear friend of mine - George, is the first. I have sucessfully done some rawnut business with him) and very soon they will rush into the processing game - be it in Africa or China - and this will drastically change the ways of trade of the crooked nut. The Chinese will devise a method to clone the Cashew with Maize and we may have kernels growing out of Cobs!
Thus on an end note, if one were able to master all the above and keep in view global weather conditions, Ash eruptions (not referring to arguments by our own bollywood belle - but the volcanic type from Iceland), Oil prices and Oil slick conditions, Halliburton stocks, Dick & Donalds whereabouts and activities, etc.etc. and then relate all this information to the Global economic situation (especially to that in Greece, Pakistan, Comoros Islands, Haiti and Spain) and then finally weigh Ahmedinejads Iran Export Policy on Pistachios, then one could easliy master the price trends of the Cashew Raw nut versus the Cashew Kernel.
Ram Mohan
In a moment of 'crooked' yet light humour
Guinea Bissau May 2010.
* Gele-gele : a 20+year old van converted to a bulk human transporter - with a minimum of 5 legs, few goats/pigs or chicken, 5 charcoal or cashew bags etc etc that need to be outside as the Gele-gele moves.(See Pic above)
NOTE : No figures and facts in the above blog are accurate. Consume them at your own risk!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Guinea Bissau - A Viewpoint
This was not intended to be a political or a social statement and was not intended for argument. I started this blog - after many years of having lived, done business and frequently visited this nation. Very often doomed by reports as being among the poorest nations in the world, higher incidences of AIDS in West Africa, and more recently the drug traffickers haven. When I tell friends that I'm off to Guinea Bissau - the immediate thought is of gun-toting drug barons and droopy eyed addicts - poverty driven slums and beggars with people dying all over.
Guinea Bissau no doubt is impoverished - dark without electricity and the absence of civic amenities - but it is not at all any way like the bleak picture painted above. Guinea Bissau is special and with a little direction, can put many other countries to shame.
Economic Poverty - YES. But yet you don't see malnourished children starving for food. They may not have the money to pay for candles or for luxuries like tap water - but they are not suffering from lack of food. A unique self sustainability helps them survive.
Bissau has two classes - The hyper Rich and the Poor. Both survive. Both Live in this dark city without civic amenities. The hyper rich run generators or tap into generators run by neighbours. The poor live in darkness at night. At day break, equality prevails - they all share glorious sunlight at the same price. Everyone knows everyone and everyone is related in some way or the other. The tribal divide exists - but amongst themselves unity exists. The cities wealthiest have relatives among the cities poorest. and they can sit together and talk, meet, eat together. A little money or a bag of rice exchanges hands sometimes.
Bissau has evolved under Brazilian culture - The Brazilians imbibed Portuguese culture and re-invented it and this is what one sees in Bissau. Everyone has fun. Everyone enjoys a good drink - whether the popular Portuguese Cristal, Super Bock or Sagres beers or Wines or the Cana / Cachaca or the basic raw Caju 'wine'. Everyone loves Drink, Sex, Music and Football. Bissau has a tradition of good music and free sex - Now don't get me wrong. I dont mean prostitution. I mean that Sex per say is not taboo. Take a young girl out, dance with her, have sex - No Problems - Its human. Have a baby and disown the baby and that when the problem starts. Children learn early about fun n life. Discotheques cater to schol children. School girlsdress to school as though for an evening out. Tight jeans and T Shirts are the norm here. It's a culture that loves drinks music and dance. Salsa / Jazz or Cape Verdian music - Talent is in abundance. I just saw a picture in a 'friends' face book page - titled - "what the relationship between poverty and music". And the idea of the Carnival comes to mind. I once read that the Carnivals in Socialist regimes were used by oppressive rulers to let the people relax once in a while - get lost in rhythm and wine - celebrate with no reason to celebrate - only to forget their woes and the governments failures. Thus this regular carnivals do continue today - help all forget daily woes with music, food and wine. Seen from the perspective of the oppressive rulers - it made sense. Seen from the oppressed peoples points of view - It made sense too! Why do we go to Cinemas and the Theatre or to Music shows - or for that reason to the Carnival - for entertainment - that helps us relax and forget daily worries. So whats Different? Why complain?
Thus back to the connection between poverty and music, I'm sure its the best way to channel pent up frustration. A depressed person can take to drugs or other intoxicants. Take to music and you have a win win. that's the way I see the connection.
Come to look of it - every one of today's worlds talents have had problems and use Music to express themselves - Take today's Hip Hop - Rappers using the unique poetry of Hip Hop to express them selves in a language that a larger audience listens to.
Speak of Food, Wine and I seem to have digressed as I write. Back to Guinea Bissau. What could possibly be wrong here? Today's schoolkids playing either Monopoly or the more modern Sim City, can easily manage a country of 1,500,000 people with an economy driven by a tree crop and supplemented by potential in fisheries, tourism, phosphates , rivers, trees and an abundance of every other natural resource - including a largely young population. Over that, the voluntary efforts of over 200 NGOs pumping monies into the economy - In my opinion reviving a functioning economy in Bissau should be child's play.
Child's Play - If a few of the current power hungry people put the country first. An I am sure that everyone in public view would want to have a stable and a developing nation.
What else does Bissau need to move forward :
For starters - Education needs to be a priority for its large and quickly growing young population.
They must have HOPE
Health is important - and very important to teach the young of preventive health care.
A Plan : Bissau needs a 5-10 year plan to move the nation from its stagnant situation to one that will make it a prosperous and thriving nation - Not by TAXING its farmers and the poor. But by giving them an opportunity to grow.
Draconian Laws - taxing agricultural products are killing the farmer. The Government should for the moment push imports and ensure that import goods are taxed properly. Encourage exports. Foreign Exchange is important but if agricultural produce is exported - it must be bought - thus there must be cash to buy the product. If the Govt streamlines exports - the economy will prosper.
Rice : Widely consumed it is the largest import food . While Bissau used to be a nett Exporter, barter trade with Cashews has made it an import product. Bissau must subsidise rice producer and tax imports. The argument that high taxes will scare the rice importers then so be it. Let Bissau's population go back t rice production as before. Bissau must prevent subsidised imports from AID like US AID Monetisation from killing the existing rice or oil seed producers.
Palm Oil and palm Kernel Oil : Bissau has an abundance of palm and yet is under utilised and the palm kernels are thrown away.
Coconut : The islands near Sensale are full of Coconut and Coconut products can rejuvenate an economy by itself. An example of small scale industry from Kerala in India - needs to be implement.
Tourism ; Encourage tourism in the Islands. Bissau is ideally poised to be the ECO tourism headquarters of the world for the simple reason that there exists no power plants and thus no pollution. It is easiest for Bissau to enter the domain of Eco friendly power with Simple solar solutions. recently heard that the EU has given out over 12 Million Euros for hi-tech solar installations. What Bissau needs is simple off the grid solutions for its villages. At one tenth of the cost, these rural technologies can provide sustainable light to villages.
Developed nations are going in reverse gear to develop Eco friendly situations. Bissau needs to only get basic infrastructure down and it will have among the best Eco friendly institutions.
Corruption : This is a daily aspect of life and needs to looked at differently. Giving a policeman or an official a few thousand CFAs doesn't constitute as corruption to me as we are only supplementing an income that is not paid on time by government. Very rarely have I seen work not being executed for non payment of a little tip. I don't deny that in higher offices, bribes are serious and are not the supplementary kind of tips that I'm mentioning here. Corruption in higher offices in Government department is what is killing Bissau today. This greed too is justified by the short tenure that the Military lets its governments have. each one wants to have as much as possible in the short time they know that they have. At these higher echelons of government - corruption takes a more demonic form. Bissau will need to address this before development takes place.
A Government where everyone is a businessman, conducts business from offices of government and takes political decisions with personal business in mind. This is what has anchored Bissau and until these shackles are broken - Bissau will continue to be doomed. Doomed yes. But the parties will go on. Biana and Kalliste will continue to attract evening crowds. Ferra Bandeh will be packed every night , albeit devoid of Light. Sonhio, Bate Papo and X-Club continue to be full. The Wifi Internet hotspots continue to mushroom. No one protests - Once in a while there will be a shooting - International communities make a hoo and a haa - The next day we're back in the streets buying and selling - be it pirates CDs, Chinese Imports, bags or Trucks of Cashewnuts - Life goes on as usual. Ze Manel and Miguelhino NSimba continue to attract listeners. The local economy thrives - Is this Doom? No, This is Guinea Bissau.
Note: I have just written this as thoughts that occur to me everyday and without the intention of harming anyone. If anyone has an argument - Ill be happy to sit across a table with a bottle of Cristal and discus it. I love Africa and Guinea Bissau too.
Cheers
Vive L'Afrique - Vivre Le Gambie Vivre La Guinea Bissau
Guinea Bissau no doubt is impoverished - dark without electricity and the absence of civic amenities - but it is not at all any way like the bleak picture painted above. Guinea Bissau is special and with a little direction, can put many other countries to shame.
Economic Poverty - YES. But yet you don't see malnourished children starving for food. They may not have the money to pay for candles or for luxuries like tap water - but they are not suffering from lack of food. A unique self sustainability helps them survive.
Bissau has two classes - The hyper Rich and the Poor. Both survive. Both Live in this dark city without civic amenities. The hyper rich run generators or tap into generators run by neighbours. The poor live in darkness at night. At day break, equality prevails - they all share glorious sunlight at the same price. Everyone knows everyone and everyone is related in some way or the other. The tribal divide exists - but amongst themselves unity exists. The cities wealthiest have relatives among the cities poorest. and they can sit together and talk, meet, eat together. A little money or a bag of rice exchanges hands sometimes.
Bissau has evolved under Brazilian culture - The Brazilians imbibed Portuguese culture and re-invented it and this is what one sees in Bissau. Everyone has fun. Everyone enjoys a good drink - whether the popular Portuguese Cristal, Super Bock or Sagres beers or Wines or the Cana / Cachaca or the basic raw Caju 'wine'. Everyone loves Drink, Sex, Music and Football. Bissau has a tradition of good music and free sex - Now don't get me wrong. I dont mean prostitution. I mean that Sex per say is not taboo. Take a young girl out, dance with her, have sex - No Problems - Its human. Have a baby and disown the baby and that when the problem starts. Children learn early about fun n life. Discotheques cater to schol children. School girlsdress to school as though for an evening out. Tight jeans and T Shirts are the norm here. It's a culture that loves drinks music and dance. Salsa / Jazz or Cape Verdian music - Talent is in abundance. I just saw a picture in a 'friends' face book page - titled - "what the relationship between poverty and music". And the idea of the Carnival comes to mind. I once read that the Carnivals in Socialist regimes were used by oppressive rulers to let the people relax once in a while - get lost in rhythm and wine - celebrate with no reason to celebrate - only to forget their woes and the governments failures. Thus this regular carnivals do continue today - help all forget daily woes with music, food and wine. Seen from the perspective of the oppressive rulers - it made sense. Seen from the oppressed peoples points of view - It made sense too! Why do we go to Cinemas and the Theatre or to Music shows - or for that reason to the Carnival - for entertainment - that helps us relax and forget daily worries. So whats Different? Why complain?
Thus back to the connection between poverty and music, I'm sure its the best way to channel pent up frustration. A depressed person can take to drugs or other intoxicants. Take to music and you have a win win. that's the way I see the connection.
Come to look of it - every one of today's worlds talents have had problems and use Music to express themselves - Take today's Hip Hop - Rappers using the unique poetry of Hip Hop to express them selves in a language that a larger audience listens to.
Speak of Food, Wine and I seem to have digressed as I write. Back to Guinea Bissau. What could possibly be wrong here? Today's schoolkids playing either Monopoly or the more modern Sim City, can easily manage a country of 1,500,000 people with an economy driven by a tree crop and supplemented by potential in fisheries, tourism, phosphates , rivers, trees and an abundance of every other natural resource - including a largely young population. Over that, the voluntary efforts of over 200 NGOs pumping monies into the economy - In my opinion reviving a functioning economy in Bissau should be child's play.
Child's Play - If a few of the current power hungry people put the country first. An I am sure that everyone in public view would want to have a stable and a developing nation.
What else does Bissau need to move forward :
For starters - Education needs to be a priority for its large and quickly growing young population.
They must have HOPE
Health is important - and very important to teach the young of preventive health care.
A Plan : Bissau needs a 5-10 year plan to move the nation from its stagnant situation to one that will make it a prosperous and thriving nation - Not by TAXING its farmers and the poor. But by giving them an opportunity to grow.
Draconian Laws - taxing agricultural products are killing the farmer. The Government should for the moment push imports and ensure that import goods are taxed properly. Encourage exports. Foreign Exchange is important but if agricultural produce is exported - it must be bought - thus there must be cash to buy the product. If the Govt streamlines exports - the economy will prosper.
Rice : Widely consumed it is the largest import food . While Bissau used to be a nett Exporter, barter trade with Cashews has made it an import product. Bissau must subsidise rice producer and tax imports. The argument that high taxes will scare the rice importers then so be it. Let Bissau's population go back t rice production as before. Bissau must prevent subsidised imports from AID like US AID Monetisation from killing the existing rice or oil seed producers.
Palm Oil and palm Kernel Oil : Bissau has an abundance of palm and yet is under utilised and the palm kernels are thrown away.
Coconut : The islands near Sensale are full of Coconut and Coconut products can rejuvenate an economy by itself. An example of small scale industry from Kerala in India - needs to be implement.
Tourism ; Encourage tourism in the Islands. Bissau is ideally poised to be the ECO tourism headquarters of the world for the simple reason that there exists no power plants and thus no pollution. It is easiest for Bissau to enter the domain of Eco friendly power with Simple solar solutions. recently heard that the EU has given out over 12 Million Euros for hi-tech solar installations. What Bissau needs is simple off the grid solutions for its villages. At one tenth of the cost, these rural technologies can provide sustainable light to villages.
Developed nations are going in reverse gear to develop Eco friendly situations. Bissau needs to only get basic infrastructure down and it will have among the best Eco friendly institutions.
Corruption : This is a daily aspect of life and needs to looked at differently. Giving a policeman or an official a few thousand CFAs doesn't constitute as corruption to me as we are only supplementing an income that is not paid on time by government. Very rarely have I seen work not being executed for non payment of a little tip. I don't deny that in higher offices, bribes are serious and are not the supplementary kind of tips that I'm mentioning here. Corruption in higher offices in Government department is what is killing Bissau today. This greed too is justified by the short tenure that the Military lets its governments have. each one wants to have as much as possible in the short time they know that they have. At these higher echelons of government - corruption takes a more demonic form. Bissau will need to address this before development takes place.
A Government where everyone is a businessman, conducts business from offices of government and takes political decisions with personal business in mind. This is what has anchored Bissau and until these shackles are broken - Bissau will continue to be doomed. Doomed yes. But the parties will go on. Biana and Kalliste will continue to attract evening crowds. Ferra Bandeh will be packed every night , albeit devoid of Light. Sonhio, Bate Papo and X-Club continue to be full. The Wifi Internet hotspots continue to mushroom. No one protests - Once in a while there will be a shooting - International communities make a hoo and a haa - The next day we're back in the streets buying and selling - be it pirates CDs, Chinese Imports, bags or Trucks of Cashewnuts - Life goes on as usual. Ze Manel and Miguelhino NSimba continue to attract listeners. The local economy thrives - Is this Doom? No, This is Guinea Bissau.
Note: I have just written this as thoughts that occur to me everyday and without the intention of harming anyone. If anyone has an argument - Ill be happy to sit across a table with a bottle of Cristal and discus it. I love Africa and Guinea Bissau too.
Cheers
Vive L'Afrique - Vivre Le Gambie Vivre La Guinea Bissau
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The ComAfrique Initiative - Sustainability in Lighting Up Rural Villages - Implementation Report
The ComAfrique Initiative: ‘Light Up a Village’ with ZonLight
JAKOI GIBBIRICK( Sponsored by ComAfrique Limited): Jan 8th / 9th:
VILLAGE STATISTICS (Provided by Village Alkalo and Representatives)
Number of Compounds : 38
Houses : 54
Population
Total : 1010 (Men : 310 Women : 500 Children : 200)
Average spending per Month on Candles per Family 300 GMD
Jakoi Village ZonLight Committee
Ebou Gibba
Salimina Jarju
Adama Sanneh
Alkalo Representative - Backary Jarju
Alkalo : Seikou Jarju
JAKOI GIBBIRICK Number Value (GMD)
TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN 71 (worth 77,000 GMD)
ZonLight Basic 57 (57,000 )
ZonLight II 10 (12,000 )
ZonHome 4 (8,000 )
Implementation Report
The Initiative commenced in The Gambia, with ComAfrique offering to sponsor one Village and TATA Africa responding with an offer to sponsor another with ZonLights and ZonHomes. These offers were sent to the Office of the President who responded immediately and very favourably, offered to also sponsor two villages. The Villages named by His Excellency, Sheikh Prof. Alhagi Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh to be sponsored by ComAfrique and TATA Africa- Safari Motors were respectively
1. Jakoi Gibbirick ( Foni District)
2. Battendeng ( Foni Bintang District)
And those to be sponsored by His Excellency were
1. Bujingha ( Foni Kansala District)
2. Jirramba ( Foni Kansala District)
On 29th December 2009, the ComAfrique team along with Mr Omar Gibba (Dy. Chief of Protocol, Office of the President, made an initial survey of the 4 villages.
On the 4th of January, 2010, ComAfrique Limited invited representatives of the 4 villages to explain the implementation procedure. In consultation with the Dy. Chief of Protocol, dates for the final implementation were fixed.
From January 8th to the 11th, ComAfrique team comprising of Mr Nfamara Dampha, Mr Mustapha Njie, and Mr Ram Mohan driven by Mr Modou Bah with Mr Sheriff Sowe of Safari Motors (TATA Representative) and accompanied by GRTS Reporter Mr Ebrima Jatta and cameraperson Mr Joof undertook the implementation of the first four villages.
The Implementation team decided that it would be ideal to do all villages on one trip, spending one night in each of the villages, thereby giving us an opportunity to experience the effect of the lights in the villages. Our experience has been overwhelming.
ComAfrique Gambia Team with TATA Africa / Safari Motors Team set out to Implement the
ComAfrique Initiative “LIGHT UP A VILLAGE” with ZonLight
4 Villages in the Fonis – January 8th to January 11th, 2010
JAKOI GIBBIRICK( Sponsored by ComAfrique Limited): Jan 8th / 9th:
A Very Warm reception was accorded by the Alkalo’s representative, Mr Backary Jarju. Our First activity was requesting them to set up the Village ZonLight Committee.
VILLAGE STATISTICS (Provided by Village Alkalo and Representatives)
Number of Compounds : 38
Houses : 54
Population
Total : 1010 (Men : 310 Women : 500 Children : 200)
Average spending per Month on Candles per Family 300 GMD
Jakoi Village ZonLight Committee
Ebou Gibba
Salimina Jarju
Adama Sanneh
Alkalo Representative - Backary Jarju
Alkalo : Seikou Jarju
The Committee agreed that the village would participate in the sustainability programme of 1 Dalasi per day per Light. The full village was asked to gather in front of the Alkalis compound at sunset. We set up a demonstration Street Light and a work table around which the ZonLights and ZonHomes for distribution were arranged. A list was drawn up with village compound representatives’ names and the number of lights to be given to each compound. This was worked out on the basis of the number of individuals living in each compound.
The ceremony began with prayers followed by a demonstration of the operation and durability of the lights. Thereafter the Initiatives Sustainability Program was explained – especially how important the 1 Dalasi payment was. Villagers were allowed to ask questions and clear doubts. Then the actual presentation began. Each Compound leader was called out by name. On being given the designated number of lights, they were publicly asked if they accepted to pay the Village ZonLight Committee a sum of ONE Dalasi per Light per Day. They were also told that in case of default they would accept that the Committee was empowered to take back a light and re-issue the light to any other. Amidst a lot of cheering, each compound head came forward, took the lights, signed receipt and adherence to pay the 1 Dalasi per Light per Day. Great excitement followed as each compound member then lit up their lights. The GRTS Camera crew too were amazed that the ZonLights were used for their filming as well. The entire evening was only powered by solar ZonLights. No big expenses were made for the ceremony and a cost effective program was initiated with a bright yet cost effective spirit. 71 Lights were distributed in Jakoi as detailed below
JAKOI GIBBIRICK Number Value (GMD)
TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN 71 (worth 77,000 GMD)
ZonLight Basic 57 (57,000 )
ZonLight II 10 (12,000 )
ZonHome 4 (8,000 )
JAKOI Villagers Gather around a Demo Zon Streetlight for the Handing over Ceremony of ZonLights & ZonHomes
Mr Nfamara Dampha demonstrates ZonLight to the Jakoi ZonLight Committee and to the Villagers while Mustafa Njie looks on
Village recipient of ZonLights Signs acceptance to pay Village ZONLIGHT Committee Sustainability fee of 1 Dalasi per Light per Day
This included ZonHomes for the Alkalo residence as well as for the Mosque, School Head and the Medical Centre.
The presentation ended with prayers to the Almighty and with thanks being showered on His Excellency, President Jammeh for encouraging the initiative from ComAfrique and to ComAfrique for their Light up a Village with ZonLight Initiative.
A Certificate of Implementation of the Initiative was signed by the ComAfrique Team as well as by the Village ZonLight Committee and witnessed by the Alkalo. A copy of this certificate is attached.
The entire ComAfrique team and the GRTS crew slept late that night while Jakoi Gibbirick cheered the entry of simple lights into their lives. The hospitality in Villages that we have seen has been in true reciprocity to the nature of the event. Each member of the team was housed with one of the families.
The ComAfrique and GRTS team then left the following morning to Battendeng.
BATTENDENG VILLAGE (Foni Bintang District) Sponsored by TATA Africa-Safari Motors) – 9th /10th January, 2010
VILLAGE STATISTICS (Provided by Alkalo and Representative)
Number of Compounds : 8
Houses : 41
Population
Total : 134 (Men-55 Women-39 Children-40)
Average spending per Month on Candles per Home 300 GMD
Battendeng Village ZonLight Committee
Jainaba Jammeh
Sajo Jarju
Seaka Badjie
Alkalo : Borry Jammeh
ComAfriques Modou Bah, Mustafa Njie, Nfamara Damfa & Sheriff Sowe prepare ZonLights at Battendeng
Battendeng Village Housewife Cleaning Rice under ZonLight
A much smaller village than Jakoi, but with the same big enthusiasm. This village designated by His Excellency, President Jammeh, was sponsored by TATA Africa-Safari Motors. With 8 Compounds, 59 Lights were distributed to a very excited village. The Alkalo and villages sang songs in praise His Excellency, President Jammeh. They sang for TATA Africa – Safari Motors and thanked ComAfrique for the initiative.
The Alkalos residence, The Village Mosque as well as the night Koranic school benefited with having ZonHomes allocated.
The lights provided was as follows
BATTENDENG VILLAGE Number & Value (GMD)
TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN : 59 (64,000GMD)
ZonLight Basic : 46 (46,000)
ZonLight II : 10 (12,000)
ZonHome 3 (6,000)
Villagers Celebrate under ZonLight - The Arrival of Sustainable Light in Battendeng
Sheriff Sowe of Safari Motors - Representing TATA Africa - Hands over ZonLights to a Battendeng Village member
Alkalo of Battendeng, Mr Borry Jammeh sings a Song thanking President Jammeh
A Certificate of Implementation of the Initiative was signed by the ComAfrique Team as well as by the Village ZonLight Committee and witnessed by the Alkalo. A copy of this certificate is attached.
Alkalo Borry Jammeh Handing the Certification of Implementation to Ram Mohan
We trust that he will not have any further use for that Torch :-)
The following morning the team thanked the hosts for their hospitality and left for the village of Bujingha in Foni Kansala District.
BUJINGHA VILLAGE (Foni Kansala District) (Sponsored by His Excellency, President Jammeh) - 10th / 11th January, 2010
A right turn before the Bwiam Hospital, and a few kilometres drive brings you to the village of Bujingha. A very well organised representative of the Alkalo, Mr. Modou Bojang met the team and immediately set about organising his Village ZonLight Committee.
VILLAGE STATISTICS (Provided by Village Alkalo and Representative)
Number of Compounds 25
Houses 133
Population ( Including Children)
Total : 317 (Male: 167 Female: 150)
Total : 317 (Male: 167 Female: 150)
Average spending per Month on Candles per Home 300 GMD
Bujingha Imam leads prayers while Alkalo Representative Modou Bojang, ComAfrique Nfamara Damfa and M Njie with the Village ZonLight Committee pray
Bujingha Village ZonLight Committee
Modou L Bojang - Alkalo Representative
Modou L Bojang - Alkalo Representative
Binta Bojang
Baboucar Jarju
Alkalo : Seikou Bojang
Bujingha Alkalo Mr Seikou Bojang Hands over Certificate of Implementation to Ram Mohan of ComAfrique
Village Children in Bujingha Studying under ZonLights
This village was all the more excited because H E, President Jammeh had personally sponsored as well as selected the village. They understood the seriousness of the sponsorship and this was seen in their attitude – very positive.
The Ceremony began as usual with a prayer of thanks and loud cheering marked every household as their representative received the designated lights. The simplicity of the lights and yet the effect they have were constant reminders of how important light is. The ComAfrique team helped install the ZonHomes in the Alkalos residence as well as the Mosque.
Details of the Lights provided:
BUJINGHA VILLAGE Number & Value (GMD)
TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN : 71 (78,600 GMD)
ZonLight Basic : 45 (45,000)
ZonLight II : 23 (27,600)
ZonHome : 3 (6,000)
A Certificate of Implementation of the Initiative was signed by the ComAfrique Team as well as by the Village ZonLight Committee and witnessed by the Alkalo. A copy of this certificate is attached.
Hospitality here was at a peak demonstrating the appreciation of the arrival of the Implementation team. The ComAfrique and GRTS team then left for the village of JIRRAMBA.
JIRRAMBA VILLAGE (Foni Kansala District) (Sponsored by His Excellency, President Jammeh) – 11th January, 2010.
VILLAGE STASTICS (Provided by the Alkalo representative)
Number of Compounds : 29
Houses : 236
Population (including children)
Total : 331 (Male :164 Female : 167)
Average spending per Month on Candles per Home 300 GMD
ComAfrique Dampha, Bah, Njie assisted by the Imam of Jirramba – arrange the ZonLights for Charging before handing over
The Cheer that the ZonLights and the team brought to Jirramba and the other villages was worth much more than anything else
A few Kilometres after Bwiam, a left turn and a couple of kilometres brought us to this fairly large village. Sidi Gibba, the very young son of Alkalo Mr Jerreh Gibba was our point of contact. We wanted to attempt a day time ceremony to enable the GRTS crew to return to Banjul to cover other engagements. However the hospitality and the enthusiasm of the villagers made us stay back and implement this village too in the evening. A Large and diverse Village ZonLight Committee was selected.
Jirramba Village ZonLight Committee
Sidi Gibba
Baboucar Jarju
Fatou Badgie
Njougou Jarju
Alkalo : Jerreh Gibba
Village elders of Jirramba show their appreciation welcoming Ram Mohan and the team from ComAfrique
Nfamara Dampha listens to a Villager of Jirramba while the Alkalo, Mustafa Njie and the Village Committee listen.
Eager Jirramba mother signs for her ZonLight agreeing to pay 1 Dalasi to the Village ZonLight Fund assisted by Mustafa Njie
Happy Jirramba Villager with her ZonLights
This village seemed a far more affluent village with several vehicles driving past and all children neatly dressed in school uniforms. Yet the absence of light and the excitement among young and old alike gave one a feeling that this was really important to them. Families that did not have compounds as yet, wanted to sign up and take lights – willing to pay the ONE Dalasi per Light in advance. Reactions have been very energising for all of us. We are determined to take this further. In a very heart warming gesture, the village of Jirramba even wanted to take an additional ZonHome for the neighbouring village Mosque.
Details of ZonLights and ZonHomes provided in Jirramba:
JIRRAMBA Number & Value (GMD)
TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN : 72 (80,800GMD)
ZonLight Basic : 40 (40,000)
ZonLight II : 29 (34,800)
ZonHome : 3 (6,000)
At the end of the ceremony, the Certificate of Implementation of the Initiative was signed by the ComAfrique Team as well as by the Village ZonLight Committee and witnessed by the Alkalo. A copy of this certificate is attached.
**************
Thus came to the end of a very exhilarating trip and the beginning of a long voyage for ComAfrique, where we will endeavour to attract more sponsors with participation from ComAfrique as well.
ComAfrique have assured each village that they will sponsor ONE Rural Street Light to Each Village being sponsored (at 6,000GMD each). This light can be mounted in a central place in the Village. The Village ZonLight Committee will be responsible to find a manner to make this light sustainable as well. These will be installed as soon as they arrive and the housings are fabricated in The Gambia.
To summarize the efforts of our team, please find below what the first four sponsorships of 4 (Four) Villages have yielded
TOTAL SUMMARY Number & Value in GMD
Total Lights Given : 277 (324,400 GMD)
ZonLight Basic : 188 (188,000)
ZonLight II : 72 (86,400)
ZonHome : 13 (26,000)
Zon StreetLight* : 4 (24,000)
A Break up of Corporate and HE President Jammehs Sponsorships is below
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP Number & Valuein GMD
Total Lights Given : 132 (153,000 GMD)
ZonLight Basic : 103 (103,000)
ZonLight II 20 (24,000)
ZonHome 7 (14,000)
Zon StreetLight* 2 (12,000)
HE PRESIDENTs SPONSORSHIP Number & Value in GMD
Total Lights Given : 145 (171,400GMD)
ZonLight Basic : 85 (85,000)
ZonLight II : 52 (62,400)
ZonHome : 6 (12,000)
Zon StreetLight* : 2 (12,000)
* The ZonStreet Lights are yet to be assembled and will be put up and sponsored by ComAfrique Gambia Limited
ComAfrique Limited would also like to mention that the ZonHomes are now being assembled in The Gambia.
The ComAfrique Team would like to profusely thank His Excellency, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh for the immense support given in implementing this Initiative. We would like to believe that this is only the beginning and that we will work towards getting more sponsors for ZonLights and ZonHomes in villages to make rural Gambia energy independent and bright. We would like to thank the Office of the President, Secretary General, Government of The Gambia, Mr Omar Gibba (Dy Chief of Protocol) and the Director of GRTS Mr M Sanyang as well as the very enthusiastic and hard working GRTS team of Mr Ebrima Jatta and Mr Joof. Our thanks also go for the encouragement given by the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Petroleum and PURA for giving us moral support to move ahead. Our profound gratitude goes to Mr Sumeet Tank of TATA Africa and to Mr H R Aswani and Mr. Ram Aswani of Right Choice Supermarket who have also taken the cause in sponsoring villages. And of course we cannot but thank the people of The Gambia without whose support, no sustainable project could ever move ahead.
Ram Mohan
Managing Director – ComAfrique Limited
On Behalf of the ZonLight Implementation Team of ComAfrique
Mr Nfamara Dampha
Mr Mustafa Njie
**********
Several ZonLights Fixed on a strip makes a wonderful Flood Light for Rural Meetings
The ComAfrique Initiative "Light Up A Village" - with Solar ZonLights
The ComAfrique “LIGHT UP A VILLAGE” Initiative
Entrepreneurship from India – in Partnership with The Gambia
Light is a primary necessity for development.
The ComAfrique Initiative is a basic Sustainable SOLAR Rural Lighting Project that combines Individual & Corporate Social Responsibility with Local Village participation, at an AFFORDABLE cost to make it genuinely possible to provide basic clean Light to Rural Areas.
ComAfrique Limited invites Corporates, NGO’s and Government Departments to come forward, Sponsor and “Light Up a Village” with Solar ZonLights and ZonHomes.
ZonLights and ZonHomes are simple yet DURABLE Solar LED lights that provide amazing white light using high technology from InteliZon India. The ZonLights give upto 7-9 hours light with a 6 hour Solar Charge. The ZonHomes give upto 15-17 hours of light with a similar charge. They require no complicated installation. Each Light has a ONE Year warranty. The Batteries are Li-Ion and last upto 2 years depending on use. Replacement batteries are economical and easily available. The LEDs and Solar Panels could last from 5-7 years.
Under this initiative, Each Village (of approximately 25 households) is Sponsored by a participating Corporate, NGO, Individual or Government, providing about 50-70 ZonLights for the households and 5-7 ZonHomes for the School, Community Centre, Village Chiefs house, Medical Centre, Police Station, Mosque or Church, , etc. (The final configuration can be altered depending on size of the village and requirements).
The Sponsorship value is approximately 65,000 to 70,000GMD/- (approx 2,600US$ per Village).
The Initiative is then made SUSTAINABLE by involving villagers.
A Village ZonLight Committee is first set up. The Committee should ideally comprise of the Alkali or Village Chief, a dynamic youngster and a dynamic woman of the village.
The Committee provides ComAfrique with details of each village : Name of the Alkali, approximate population, number of compounds, number of households, average spending per household on candles and other sources of light, etc. Based on this information, the final configuration of the sponsorship is drawn up.
The Head of Each family receiving each light then formally and publicly engages with the Village ZonLight Committee to pay a minimal sum of ONE Dalasi per Day or 30 GMD per Month for each sponsored light. (This is very low compared to the 5-6 GMD spent on a candle per day and is safer too). This money is paid to the Village ZonLight Fund which will be managed by the Committee. This fund generates an income of 360GMD per Light per year for the Village. This fund can then be used to purchase replacement batteries in two years (life of the Li-Ion battery), which cost 175GMD for ZonLight and 250 GMD for ZonHome. Since the ZonLights and Zon Homes will last from 5-7 years, this fund will grow in surplus. The ZonLight fund then can be used to replace the ZonLights or ZonHomes and can even be used to ADD the number of Lights in the Village. (See attached Appendix 1)
The Village ZonLight Committee will monitor the payments from Villagers and set Village rules for the usage of the Village Light Fund. This fund should ideally be used only for Lighting up the village with ZonLight.
If the Village ZonLight Committee and ZonLight fund are run properly, the Beneficiary Village will NEVER be Dark again. In addition to providing Light in the villages, the initiative also encourages co-operation and organization in the village for a civic amenity.
The ComAfrique Initiative has commenced in The Gambia with the first four villages being identified by His Excellency, The President of The Gambia, Sheikh Professor Alhagi Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh. H E has sponsored two villages (Bujingha & Jirramba) and ComAfrique Limited and TATA Africa-Safari Motors Sponsored the other two (Jakoi & Battendeng) respectively. RIGHT CHOICE SUPERMARKET, have immediately offered to sponsor another village and we will request H E to kindly nominate the Village.
The Initiative has begun. It is upon us to take it forward.
The ComAfrique “ZonLight” Team
Entrepreneurship from India - In Partnership with The Gambia
Contact: Nfamara Damfa (220) 7008892 or Mustafa Njie (220) 7012812 www.comafrique.gm
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