KebbaAnsu
Fatou Jaw Manneh (FJM), a renowned journalist and one of leading rights activists has expressed her disappointment towards Chinese Ambassador to The Gambia Ma Jianchun.
She said the Chinese Ambassador was more concern about protecting the Fishmeal business in Sanyang than the destruction and havoc the operation of these facilities causes to their host community.
Recently, Ambassador Ma Jianchun appealed to Gambian Government that, “if natives of Sanyang have some uncomfortable feelings regarding Chinese Fishmeal in their community they could have used dialogue mechanisms instead of launching an assault on the Fishmeal company”.
The Ambassador also argues that if foreign investors violate local laws and regulations, the problem should be solved through legal channels. “Chinese Ambassador’s was more concern about protecting the Fishmeal business than the destruction and havoc the operation of these facilities cause to their host communities.
“His plea to the Gambian government is unfortunately, misrepresented and misplaced,” the Brufut born Gambian Activist said.
She added. “I’m still baffled why Gambian government has not shutdown all these Fishmeal factories in the country considering the negative and disastrous consequences on our communities since 2015.”
She argued that Fishmeal factories are destructive to the economy, environment and food security of the country, calling on Gambian government to close the Fishmeal factories or risk being label as an accomplice of the Fishmeal operators.
“If the Gambian government did not close these Chinese Fishmeal factories in the country, the frustrated youths and the community will choose but protect their rights and livelihoods. Dialogue is welcome, but these Fishmeal operations are nothing but causing havoc to the environment and our food security,” FJM submitted.
Madam Manneh went further that foreign direct investment is not only about making profit without considering the host communities. Noting that such investments should be mutually beneficial to both countries.
“Is only in Africa that ‘foreign direct investment’ depletes fish from our seas, smuggles all timbers from our forests, encroached and illegally acquire fertile lands, confiscated women gardens, depletes black sands from coastal towns, causing a severe economic and environmental disaster for the countries and the continent,” Manneh stated.
She therefore called on all and sundry to raise their voices against exists of Fishmeal factories in the coastal settlements of the country.