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THE PAIN OF CHARITY. PART TWO.
Reason why we write to you is that we have absolutely no confidence in Fatou Jallow who seems to be the Scouting Commissioner for Gambia. When Muhammed Camara – the leader of another local scout band marching on the beach - confronted her with the deeds of the boys she told him we should go to court if we wanted something from them. But the boys dragged us to court and you know it is very costly and time consuming for a toebab to go to court.
Moreover we do not ruin their lives by prison and subsequently no chances for any official job anymore because of their criminal record.
We think they will be sufficiently punished if the scouting organisation (Court of Honour) will expel them worldwide for life.
The time we met Fatou some years ago, we wanted to investigate the possibility of having our training facility at Little Trees scouting camp in Bakoteh. She refused, but finally agreed if we paid her a considerable sum of money monthly for the rent (?) and would allow all the scout band members to use our instruments. She did not want to understand that we were colleagues in educating the youth of the Gambia, and she treated us not very nicely.
We have suffered so much over the last three years, and are so fed up with them that we have decided to bring this story worldwide into publicity.
The Gambian Scouting has its leadership problems, reason why we fear that these criminals get away with it. They even might go so far as to continue harassing us even after the court case is closed, and after they have been expelled by the Court of Honour.
Therefore this complaint should be taken seriously to prevent them from doing more harm to The Gambia, to us and giving the Gambian Scouting a bad name.
Subtitle: A warning to all good willing people who sponsor projects.
How happy we were when during the selection procedure some boys turned up who spontaneously started to blow the flute, the trumpet and the saxophone.
During four years we have tried to educate some 20 young boys in music so that in the end they may be better citizens in The Gambia. For that project we imported 350 kg of musical instruments and started the Marina Sun Swing Orchestra. Our secondary aim was to play on only “western” instruments only traditional Gambian music. Hereby promoting and nurturing the beautiful culture of the Gambia.
1,500.000.- Dalasi further and many deceptions endured, the last blow was finally given.
Marina Sun Swing Orchestra (MSSO) has been a development project for the youth of the Gambia, whereby we had hoped to bring the MSSO to the level of self-sufficiency.
It must have been somewhere in 2012 when a friend suggested that perhaps we could do more for the youth of The Gambia by developing social skills using their musical talents in an orchestra. So we started to buy musical instruments. Some were given, some we got very cheap, others were second hand. In this way we managed to get about 100 kg of high quality musical instruments, an amplifier, a mixer and two boxes. The transport by plane was very expensive, around € 1000.-.
In the meantime we spread the word that we intended to start an orchestra. So many boys and girls came to us on the beach and in the village, asking us how they could join. Of the approximately 100 interviews we selected 50 boys to take part in the final “Gambia got talent show”. There it was that we first met some of the members of the National Scout Band. Some of them took an instrument from the display and presented themselves to the jury playing.
Despite the fact that our target group was the “boys from the street with no perspective to the future”, we considered them as very useful to fulfil a supporting role. In Europe scouts are disciplined, well behaved and serving the community.
On the 23 of November 2012 Marina Sun Swing Orchestra (MSSO) was officially founded with the Paramount Chief of The Gambia: Alhagie Demba Sanyang as our Protector and Cofounder. Some 25 members were assigned an instrument. The boy scouts took all wind instruments, leaving the remaining to the others.
Soon the first consignment was followed by a second and a third. More instruments, cables, microphones, etc. In all the invested value added up to € 30.000.- (GMDalasi: 1.500.000.-)
From the beginning there were two groups, the scouts and the others. We did not manage to integrate them into “one family”.
We made them all sign a document stating:
- The MARINA SUN SWING ORCHESTRA is an amateur orchestra. So in principle no money will be paid for practicing, transport or performing.
- The aim is to have pleasure in playing music.
- By doing so the members will develop themselves in the skills necessary to be good citizens of The Gambia.
- The music played will be solely traditional Gambian music, nurturing and preserving the old cultural traditions.
- The instruments are not the property of the individual musician.
- Every musician is responsible for keeping himself, his instrument and the location clean and shiny.
- The instruments will not leave the location as assigned by the M.S.S.O. management.
- In case permission is given, the musician will sign for liability for any loss, damage or wear (such as broken strings) for the whole period.
- The instruments should always be available to be used for any performance.
- Any revenues received at any time (also outside performances or practices) will be collected by the treasurer, who will at the discretion of the management let all the members share therein according to agreed rules.
- The Management of the M.S.S.O. consists out of the Musical Director, the Commercial Director, the Secretary General/Director of Finance and the Director General Affairs.
- All members of M.S.S.O. will comply with the decisions of the Management. Serious violation of any regulation may result in suspension, eviction or penalty.
- Physical violence will result in immediate eviction without prior warning as will the no-show at important occasions.
In the beginning they were obviously not able to perform, so we provided the orchestra with all it needed from our private money, and everybody with drinks (water, ataya and soft drinks) and many times also food. After various “try-outs” in different venues, our first official concert was given on the 14th of February 2014. The revenues were equally shared amongst them. The drinks were as usual on our account. That is how it always went. Fares, food and drinks were the fixed demands from especially the scout boys. It was never enough. Many of them we gave a mobile. The answer was always: where is the charger, where is the chip, and there is no credit, instead of saying: thank you. They also always asked permission to take the instruments permanently home. - Once one scout took a flute, exchanged it with his own, and kept it till we discovered what had happened. Of course, hundred times denial, but finally: “I took it to have it repaired!!!”.
- During an external rehearsal, where only a few could play, we suddenly saw another scout behind me playing a flute. So we recovered it immediately.
- Of the 8 mouth organs 6 were stolen. Only with the seventh (a blue one) we found out who did it. Again after 100 denials he returned a yellow one!!! (who has the blue one?).
- Two had asked permission, three took the instruments, but “were not paid”. The rule is: all revenues go to the MSSO account.
- Asking for transport money where transport was provided.
- At a concert some did not appear. Later they were seen by me marching in some street parade organised by the scouts.
- Etc. etc. etc. (I will write a book about the history of the MSSO.)
But we were willing to give the boys a last chance. In 2016 The Gambia has a Roots Festival. This is a festival where only the very best of the Gambian bands from all over the world perform their music. We promised them an invitation to this festival, provided they would in the next 8 months have at least 20 concerts. “No problem, we make at least 25!!”.
November 2015 we returned to The Gambia and they had not been able to realise one concert. Except one “gig” on December 27 or 28 where some of them could be the backing of some singer. As the leader of the orchestra had been very ill for some months, the scouts had taken the instruments home against all rules (see rules above “In case permission is given, the musician will sign for liability for any loss, damage or wear (such as broken strings) for the whole period”.) to prepare for that gig. NOTE: So, the instruments were all complete and in good order at that time!!!
After three years of frustration, being cheated, insulted, threatened, intimidated by the boy scouts – most of the other boys were good willing – we decided to give everything to a church, which promised to continue the MSSO under the same name, and start a music school for the young.
So we made an appointment with Abdoulief Samatah, the leader, who was fully in agreement with our action, because he had been ill for some time and the family started to complain against the breach of their privacy and the noise.
Between the beginning and half December the following happened:
We hired a bus to get the instruments and bring them to the church. Arriving there half a dozen scout boys were present. They refused to help us uploading the instruments. we was willing to talk to them but only after the instruments were safe in the bus. Then they prevented us from taking the instruments and started to download every again.
Their argument was that we had used their pictures to promote the orchestra in Holland, so they had a claim on them. Moreover we had identified them with a “beggars association”.
There was pulling and pushing until we fled to the hotel with as much as we could take. There we were advised to go to the police, who gave us three soldiers to rescue the instruments. The boys refused to help in any way. So we ended up with all instruments at the police station. After to and fro between two police stations it was decided that we had to return all instruments to the original store. Not everything could fit into one bus, so the boys were ordered to take the remaining to the store next morning. This they did, but when - on arrival - Abdoulief refused to pay the transport, they took all they had to the scout camp.
Through the intervention of the highest police commissioner in Banjul, the N.I.A. and the C.I.D. we managed to get everything secured in the church. There we found out that the boy scouts had stolen all mouth pieces from all wind instruments (of course they denied). When leaving the store the first time, we checked everything and all mouthpieces were there. The only time they had access to the instruments had been during downloading them back to the store, which was later locked by the police. The store was opened by the police when we brought everything to the church where we discovered the theft. This whole process took us a full week where we spent about GMD 20.000.- on fares and other direct costs.
Much to our surprise an unknown person, who refused to identify himself came to the hotel with two scouts on December the 28th. They wanted to give me a summons. But as our names were not spelled correctly, nor was the address, and the summons itself was also not signed by the registrar, we refused to sign for it. They left it behind, so we took a copy:
( this is verbally a transcript of their claim, including all linguistic mistakes and/or omissions.)
- That plaintiff’s are members of the Gambia National Scout Band.
- That sometime in 2012, defendant came to little tress scout training centre in Bakoteh in which he met with the plaintiff’s and told them that he wish to develop an orchestra (Marina Sunswing orchestra). The main aim is to help young Gambian’s achieve their though music.
- That the defendant told the plaintiff’s to meet at Sunwsing Hotel for registration. During the process of registration, there was a musical performance by the plaintiff’s in which the defendant took some of the plaintiff’s photos.
- That sometime in 2014, the bands vocalist got sick and for 8 months the band has not perform any training, then the defendant said he was going to take back the musical instruments. Later the plaintiff’s discover that the defendant never brought any instrument, for he was using the plaintiff’s photos to seek for donation in Holland.
- That the plaintiff now crave the indulgence of this honourable court for the defendant to show cause why should the band return the said musical instruments to the Defendants after they had tarnish the bands image all in the name of sponsorship in order to get said instruments.
WHEREUPON THE PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS IS FOR
1 An order from this honourable court, for the defendant to show cause why he and his wife should tarnish the image of their band and turning their name into a beggars association in their nature language, Hollanist.
2 Any further orders this Honourable Court may deem fit to make.
DATED THIS 21st DAY OF DECEMBER 2015
Not signed!!!
So, advised by others we turned up on the 5th of January to find out we were summoned to the wrong court: The RENT TRIBUNAL. The 7th of January of January to hear that the judge was giving the boy scouts another chance to provide a summons which made sense.
The 11th of January we were ordered to write an affidavit. When we told the judge that it was not us who had been summoned, but some persons with another name on another address, he told me to write that down. Then he asked me what we were doing at the court. Upon my answer that we did not know, he told me to write an affidavit stating that also, and anything we did not agree with.
Because we could – for health reasons – not stay longer than January the 13rd, we were obliged to take our own lawyer to represent us on the 20th of January.
The lawyer has been to the court many times. The first time she was ordered to write a motion to effect dismissal of the case. The week after the magistrate gave the boys a chance to comment on the motion. The week after the magistrate was away for a course or something. Next week there was no session because of independence day. The week after (22/02/2016) the magistrate decided that the answer the scouts gave was not up to standard, so he gave them another chance to prepare a better answer to our affidavit. Next week (March the first) the final???
SO FAR 7 TIMES AT THE COURT !!! AND THAT FOR A NO CASE !!! THIS IS GAMBIA MAN !!!
CONCLUSION:
Everybody agrees that we have met with young Gambians who call themselves Scouts:
Musa Gibba Victor S. Mendy Pa Malick Badjie Dawda Lowe
Fansu Fatty Alieu Touray Yaya Jarjue Ousman Jarjue
Sulyman Manga Omar Faye Shiekh Fallu Sainey Camara.
Also everybody agrees that they are a group of criminals who try to steal our instruments. But they have no ground for any claim or accusation.
The police convinced them that they were engaged in criminal activities by stealing our instruments ( ref. police report).
Now they try to make our lives as miserable as possible and are willing to go all the way to
bring us to higher costs and more misery.
They are absolutely not Scout worthy and should be expelled for life from all scouting activities worldwide.
Signed: L.H. van Emmerik
Place: Voorburg (NL)
Date: February 2016
Is er ook ook een verkorte, Nederlandstalige, versie voorhanden? Of kun je in het kort vertellen wat er gebeurd is dat het zover heeft moeten komen?
Hoi Erwin,
Hier een verkorte Nederlandse versie.
**HOE MOEILIJK KAN LIEFDADIGHEID ZIJN
**Gedurende vier jaar hebben mijn vrouw en ik geprobeerd zo’n 20 jongeren muziek onderwijs te geven zodat zij later een betere positie in de samenleving kunnen hebben. Voor dit project hebben we 350 kg muziek instrumenten naar Gambia gestuurd (alles privé gefinancierd).
Het “Marina Sun Swing Orchestra (MSSO)” zou uit moeten groeien tot een eenheid die voldoende geld kon generen om alle leden en hun families ruimschoots te onderhouden. Dit lag absoluut binnen de mogelijkheden omdat het orkest door haar omvang en muziekkeuze uniek in The Gambia waren.
Ondanks het feit dat leden van de Nationale Scouting Band niet tot onze doelgroep – hangjongeren zonder toekomstverwachtingen – behoorden waren wij blij met hun expertise die ze aan de anderen konden overdragen. Maar er kwam nooit een integratie en van kennisoverdracht was al helemaal geen sprake. Zij speelden op “het koper” en hebben geprobeerd om zoveel mogelijk geld van ons los te peuteren zonder er iets voor te doen.
1,500.000.- Dalasi (€ 30.000.-) en drie jaar frustratie, bedrog, beledigd, bedreigd en geïntimideerd door twaalf leden - die ook deel uitmaakten van het orkest van de Nationale Scouting Band - later, hadden we besloten om te stoppen en alle instrumenten aan een naburige Katholieke Kerk te geven. De kerk heeft beloofd het orkest onder dezelfde naam een doorstart te geven, de instrumenten voor de erediensten te gebruiken en een muziekschooltje voor kinderen te beginnen.
Er voor wilden we de jongens nog een laatste kans geven. In mei/juni 2016 vindt het twee jaarlijks “Roots Festival” plaats. Hier spelen – op uitnodiging - de beste Gambiaanse Bands uit de hele wereld. Wij hadden een uitnodiging maar daarvoor moesten ze in de 8 maanden tot eind 2015 20 concerten hebben gehad. “No problem, we make at least 25”. In November 2015 kwamen we terug en ze hadden zelfs niet één concert gerealiseerd.
Onder het argument dat we hun foto hadden gegeven aan de kranten als illustratie van de interviews in Nederland dachten ze recht te hebben op het eigendom van de instrumenten. Bovendien hadden we hen geassocieerd met een bedelaarsbende het geen hun goede naam geschaad had. Dus namen ze alles mee naar het Scout Camp.
Door tussenkomst van de hoogste politie baas in Gambia, de Nationale Inlichtingen Dienst en de Criminele Inlichtingen Dienst en wat Militairen kregen we alles terug minus alle mondstukken van de koper blaasinstrumenten.
Twee weken later werden we gedagvaard door de twaalf boy scouts, want ze waren in hun eer aangetast en eisten alle instrumenten. Na 8 keer voor het gerecht (we hadden al 11 dage op allerlei politiebureaus gezeten) is de zaak geseponeerd.
We willen nu alleen nog dat ze allemaal uit de Scouting gegooid worden.
Hoi Gambia Music Project,
We zijn een Nederlandstalige reisforum,gelieve u artikels in het Nederlands te posten aub !
Met vriendelijke groet,
georgessiam Forum Admin.
Bedankt voor de heldere, Nederlandse, uitleg van dit drama. Helaas wel herkenbaar en voor mij ook reden om op deze wijze me nooit ‘vast te leggen’ met wat voor zaken dan ook in The Gambia. Ik draag mijn ‘steentje’ bij op mijn eigen manier. Zónder dat het mij ergernis overlevert of zelfs geld kost… 
Wat een leuk initiatief dat orkest in Kololi. Ik ken ook een jeugdorkest in Sanyang, die begonnen zijn met lokale instrumenten en nu ook professionele instrumenten hebben uit Europa. Zij hebben een heel repertoire aan muziek. Mogelijk kunnen ze nog van elkaar leren. Mocht je hun contactadres nodig hebben dan mail me maar op* (emailadres verwijderd door admin)*
Ik zou als ik jou was eerst even het hele verhaal lezen op de vorige pagina…