Covid-19 Thoughts

It is the cause for our worldwide pause

I sit and think
How our lives changed in a blink
Amidst it all
Is this a wake up call?

Is this a total negative
Or just a temporary sedative
Does God need to interject
So His creation can reflect

As we lose some stability
Do we gain some humility

If we feel we're in total control
Does this not take a harder toll

I've noticed through it all
Families outdoors throwing a ball
Couples are walking
Maybe doing more talking

Sometimes in the disaster
We can remember who is the Master
Maybe that's a good perspective
That keeps us grateful and reflective

I do not make light
That many will lose to this fight
For families & friends left behind
May we share love & be ever so kind

©Marabi Amfaal Hydara
The Humanitarian Poet

Letter to Dr. Bittaye

OPEN LETTER TO Dr. Mustapha Bittaye (Director of Health Services, Ministry of Health)

Dear Dr. Bittaye, During this Covid-19, things get too critical to set the tone for treatment of this virus. Pandemics tend to bring out the best and worst of all of us. Innately we all want to protect ourselves and our families. However, you and all other healthcare workers across the country never for a moment have wondered if they should return home to stay safe with their families who are in need of them too. It has been weeks now, since you left your family to be in the frontline in making sure everyone receives the required support they need in this crisis.

You knew you were going into a battle. You walked into the scene with confidence, empathy and humility to provide the best care you could to each of your brave healthcare workers.
In this trying time, the Kanifing Municipal Red Cross Branch under the Gambia Red Cross Society would love to send you our support and prayers throughout this crisis. We want you to know that, we care about you today than ever before, and the Red Cross fraternity shall never forget about you even a second.

We know very well that, all eyes and hopes are in the Ministry you're serving as the Director of Health Services. But, we would like to remind you that, the spirit of humanitarianism which the Kanifing Municipal Red Cross Branch of the Gambia Red Cross Society has instilled in you is still inside you, and it's powerful today than it was yesterday. We know this trying time can create stress for every pure soul like yours. Thus, remember to manifest your Psychological First Aid skills (Caring for Yourself) to enable you cope with the situation that arises in your day to day activities. We believe you already know that one way of coping with stress is to express what you are feeling.

Dr. Bittaye, we know that you're a decent soul, from a decent background (family) and serving decent institutions (Red Cross & Ministry of Health). So, what ever happened or will happen in this trying time, kindly paint them in your lifetime book, and note that not everything in White House is purely white. During pandemics, there are Situational Whites that keep on changing from white to other colors.

We believe that ultimately we all care about each other and want the best for everyone here. The only way to get through a war is to work together on the battlefield. We want to assure you that, we are in this fight together!
We once again pray for Allah to protect you and your entire team during Covid-19.

In the services of the most vulnerable, we remain.

KM Red Cross Branch.

The Historical Drama of GRCS Youth Assembly 2019

 *THE HISTORICAL DRAMA OF THE GRCS YOUTH ASSEMBLY 2019*

INTRODUCTION
The Youth Assembly is a constitutional mandate in the General Statuses (Supreme Document) of the Gambia Red Cross Society,  which shall be held once in every 3 years. The Assembly reviews Youth Policies, Elects National Youth Chairpersons and confirms the 7 Area Youth Representatives who were elected in their various Branch Assemblies.
As the highest decision making body of all the youths within the GRCS, it represents the interests of the youths at the highest level.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE DELEGATES
According to the program guide of the Assembly, the Opening Ceremony will start at 9am, but it was, as it is usually, the biggest disease of Gambians is respecting scheduled time. Even the accommodated delegates in the Hotel of Paradise could not wake up on time, perhaps, it was the comfort of the Paradise Suites.

The opening ceremony was well done and as well the reviewing of the youth policies. Funnily, i could hear some delegates saying that "A very good grammer in these documents,  they're well written,  but.........the implementation policy is poor,  because these misconducts happen and no measures have been taken."

THE IEC TO CUT THE ELECTION CAKE
Red Cross might not be known for high polotical eletion, but no election is small,  and the Youth Assembly was indeed a bitter experience for the IEC.

The IEC gave a brief report of the Branch Assemblies and these are the main points:
They have qualified and disqualified candidates almost in all the branches due to their criteria they set aside for eligibility of candidacy.
All branches had observed election/selection except LRR
The IEC read the rules governing the entire election and the bitter work starts for who is qualified or disqualified by the IEC:

For the position of the National Youth Chairperson, we have two candidates in the name of Bubacarr Singhateh and Lamin Jawneh.
Mr. Bah, IEC Chairman: we have disqualified Bubacarr Singhateh for nominating himself in the nomination list (20) which has never happened anywhere in the world. Have you ever conducted or witnessed a candidate nominating himself.

Bubacarr Singhateh: i have confidence in myself and that's why i nominated myself.

Youth Rep., WCR: Mr. Chairman,  you didn't specify as to whether the candidates can nominate themselves or not, you just said, 20 nominations from the branch,  and he is a member of the branch. You should have cleared that point as you have cleared that,  "4 delegates will represent each branch,  of whom one should be the elected Area Youth Rep.

Mr. Bah was not really interested in that debate so he proceeded to another candidate.
Mr. Bah: "We have also disqualified Momodou Alieu Jallow, who is vying for the position of Assistant Youth Chairperson, because he did not meet the critera".

Episode 2 loading....
[11/23, 16:15] Marabi Amfaal Hydara: *Episode 2*

When this announcement was made, most of the delegates, including myself, were murmuring with one voice, "EEEEH! MR. chairman,  which criteria?"
I could hear a voice from the Observers, who have completely forgotten their status in the assebmly due to the chaotic moment which was about to strike, the person said,  "I don't this IEC have done their homework well".

Again, the IEC Chairman was not interested and proceeded with a decision that created more room for the historical drama.
Mr. Bah: "Mr. Ismaila Sonko have met all our criteria and therefore he is duly elected unopposed as the Assistant Deputy Youth Chairperson. Is Mr. Sonko in attendance as election in absentia is not allowed in any election" Ismaila stood up to be seen by the Chairman. Since most of the delegates except NBR and other unidentified delegates know the status of Ismaila in the assembly, so everyone was waiting on the decision of the IEC.

Mr. Bah: "Mr. Sonko, you can come out and tell this assembly what you have for them."
As soon as Ismaila Sonko was given the Mic after being confirmed by the IEC, distraction was coming from everywhere. Then, i don't know who informed the IEC that, Ismaila is not an Official Delegate.
The Chairman beat into the Mic africanly to get the delegates attention. Then,  he said: "We have received something here that Ismaila Sonko is not a delegate, but we have to confirm from the list GRCS gave us first".

 *If you want to know What is going to be the reactions of the delegates, watch out for episode 3...*
[11/23, 22:08] Marabi Amfaal Hydara: *Episode 3
As the list of delegates is brought before the IEC, let us see what would be their decision if Ismaila's name is not found in the list*

The VMC gave the list to Mr. Bah and he started calling the name of the delegates in the list they have. He start with Banjul and ended with URR and he didn't mention and we did hear any name called "Ismaila Sonko".
So, the IEC had to withdrawn their previous statement of comfirming Ismaila Sonko.

 the Chairman said, " we are independent in what we do" and this statement was not well cherished by one female delegate, who replied instantly to Mr. Bah's statement and said,
"You are not independent,  because if you were independent,  yoy wouldn't have confirmed a candidate and reject him at the same time. In fact, you should interviewed all the candidates and let them who is qualified and who is not qualified, but you cannot wait for people to come here with the mentality that they are qualified and you disqualified them".

Mr. Bah: "The criteria was sent to all branches and it is stipulated their that, if you have any question, you can inquire from the IEC."
Another delegate stood confidently and was given the mic to speak.
Delegate: " Mr. Chairman,  are we hear to elect our leaders or we're here for you to select them for us".
Mr. Bah: "You elected me during the last General Assembly to serve as the Chairman of the IEC. So, this assembly is yours and you are going to elect your leaders".

Abdoulie Njie: " You cannot come here and select our leaders for us. i dont even mind to match out of this assembly and when i reach to my region, i will tell them that,  i didn't represent you well, because there was no assembly."

 *Episode 4 coming in the next hour*
[11/23, 22:09] Marabi Amfaal Hydara: *Episode 4*

As the tention of the drama was getting even higher, i was personally trying to find out whether the IEC's Chairs have some similarities with that of the Witness' hot chair at the TRRC. I came to realised that, they have some similarities and i said to myself, "ahhh, this must have been the case yyyy". The organisers did not put that into consideration.

At this stage, all delegates had memorised the Section that talks about election in the General Statuses even though others had created their own versions of it and i tried to give a deaf ears to those versions, because i didn't want to take part in the drama. i was waiting to hear from the chairman on what criteria they disqualified Momodou Alieu Jallow but it never came out. So, i raised up my hand together with Alieu Faburay to ask the same question but we weren't given the platform to talk as the situation was in high temperature, even the A.C was no longer useful to calm the situation.

While all these things was happening, the SG, Alasana Senghore, was seated behind laughing and enjoying the drama, when our temperature was above normal. Fortunately, he intervened as the Henry Dunant of our battle and cooled down the temperature back to normal. Then, the Chairman,  suspended the session for 10 minutes, while they have some discussions amongst themselves.

 *Hmmmmm. What would be the results of the IEC's discussion with the SG?
The answer is, i don't know, but episode 5 will surely answer it for us.*
[11/23, 22:09] Marabi Amfaal Hydara: *Episode 5*

Now, that, the break is finished and we are all back to our original places and with the hope that the IEC will have solutions to this problem.
Surprisingly,  the IEC gave a statement which for them was the best, but for me,  was the worst.
Mr. Bah: "What is your suggestion/recommendation on what to do to solve this problem?"
And again, i raised up my hand followed by almost every delegate and i said to myself we're not departing here anytime soon.
Edrisa Manager, VMC,  came and said he has an announcement which is "for those delegates that are accommoded in the hotel and are here to attend the Youth Assembly, will now spend the night and sign out tomorrow after the breakfast".

When i was given the mic to recommend what i think could be the possible solution,  i said" My recommendation in this situation is, as far as the General Statuses is one of the most important documents of GRCS, we need to respest it at all the time. However, lets look into it thouroghly, and if there's no Article which is inline with what the IEC used to disqualified these candidates, then we should approve their candidature but if there's an Article which is inline with the IEC provisions, then we should disqualify that particular candidate. "
I gave the Mic to Alieu Faburay, who was more specific on what i was .
"We can compromise with the issue of Parraw and Bamba, but it is very clear that,  Ismaila Sonko is not a delegate and therefore he should be disqualified"

The assembly continued to create more historical drama. As democratic as it was, age and status were no longer considered in the assembly. Words were not willing to be polished before being published. When one delegate lights up fire another one will add more fuel to it.
The mic was democatically going round from one delegate to another, until it reached Abdoulie Bah, who fuelled the fire in a different manner when he said: "Am very much disappointed that we cannot come into terms and some of you dont even understant English language". This statement really hurts other delegates and they have to ask him to withdraw the statement.
A Delegate: tell them that you're sorry.
Abdoulie Bah: "i will never say it, because am not sorry."

 *Lets see how will this arguments end in episode 6.*
[11/23, 23:08] Marabi Amfaal Hydara: *Episode 6*

         *THE SOLUTION*

This was not received well by Ismaila, who was later given the mic to speak after so many trials and this is what he has to say :"There is no where in the Statuses which talks about candidates that are not part of the delegates of the branch. I have met all the criteria to contest for this position and if anybody here says that am not eligible, that person must be ignorant of the Statuses. And the current Acting President, Jatto Sillah, didn't come as a delegate when he was elected in 2016 General Assembly"
This statement was a shock to my heart.

Mr. Bah: "that was 2016 and i was not part of that IEC, so don't even think that we're going to apply that thing here".

Ismaila: "Mr. Chairman, if am disqualified i will feel that am not being treated fairly because i have met all the criteria."

There comes the unwanted dramatic and chaotic moment and in our minds, we all know that there is still no solution. I said in my mind that "Chairman,  i told you dehhh...this will never bring solution to this problem..


As the tention was in high gear as never before, the SG and the IEC had some murmuring discussions on the wayforward. After few mainutes, the IEC Chairman,  Mr. Bah, gave 2 options, which were the only solution to the problem, but the each of them will never favour all parties in anyways.
So these are the option provided by the Chairman:
1. Nomination to be open and implememted in the old red cross tradion way of nominating a candidate and this nomination will only be done for the position of the Deputy Youth Chairperson as we already have a successful candidate for the Youth Chairperson.
2. We call off this election and organise extra ordinary assembly where we will use your own rules to elect your leaders.

After exchanging words for a while, the Chairman opened the platform to vote for either option 1 or 2.

At the end of the voting, this was the results:
Option 1: 12 votes.
Option 2: 20 votes.
The assembly was adjourned and the flow was given to Njogou Jeng, the outgoing Youth Chairperson,  who came to the assembly with the mentality of handing over, but unfortunately, the historical drama made that not to happen that night.

Some of us left the assembly ground as soon as an announcement was made to call of the election and other comments done by the SG, Acting President and Youth Chairperson.
We were no longer interested in further discussions on this memorable night. I hope this will be written in our history 😀😀.
I wish i had the memory to memorise everything that was said in the assembly, but this is all i can recall and i thank you all for keeping you posted about what had transpired in the Youth Assembly.

©Marabi Amfaal Hydara
     ............THP..................

The Gambia My Motherland

The Gambia, My Motherland
How I weep for you
these tears are not of joy,
for you have let the enemy in,
they brought disaster to your shores.

The Gambia, My Motherland
How I weep for you
The pain you must endure.
For all those dead have,
come to you under burdening
skies.

The Gambia, My Motherland
How I weep for you
Who has put you through this Hell?
It has no face,
I cannot tell,
It's here in space,
the Dawning was its place.

The Gambia, My Motherland
How I weep for you
Your skies have turn to Black
The Peace and Security you seek,
has now suddenly turned its back.

The Gambia, My Motherland
How I weep for you
My tears are not of joy
I pray for you,
my heart opens too.
You may find Peace within.
When your dead are buried and
your revenge has its reward
Come together
Powers of Faith
Come together
Almighty hand and rest upon us
from this mighty land.

Give us your Peace.
We ask thee now
Give us your Peace
We ask how?

The Gambia, My Motherland
How I weep for you
In time of trouble,
what is it can you do?
Your borders closed
turmoil enclosed
The sadness fills the air.

For Peace is fleeting,
The enemy has come there.
Your golden arch is dim.
Your Eiffel black with sin
The City of  Lights
are in the shadows for his mighty
hand has struck.

Peace you may ask,
Revenge your reward.

The Gambia, My Motherland
How I weep for you
For can we say, no more, no more?

©Marabi Amfaal Hydara
The Humanitarian Poet

Break the shackle

Don’t be fooled by me.
Don’t be fooled by the face I wear
for I wear a mask, a thousand masks,
masks that I’m afraid to take off,
and none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that’s second nature with me,
but don’t be fooled,
for God’s sake don’t be fooled.
I give you the impression that I’m secure,
that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well as without,
that confidence is my name and coolness my game,
that the water’s calm and I’m in command
and that I need no one,
but don’t believe me.
My surface may seem smooth but my surface is my mask,
ever-varying and ever-concealing.
Beneath lies no complacence.
Beneath lies confusion, and fear, and aloneness.
But I hide this.
I don’t want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weakness exposed.
That’s why I frantically create a mask to hide behind,
a nonchalant sophisticated facade,
to help me pretend,
to shield me from the glance that knows.

But such a glance is precisely my salvation, my only hope,
and I know it.
That is, if it’s followed by acceptance,
if it’s followed by love.
It’s the only thing that can liberate me from myself,
from my own self-built prison walls,
from the barriers I so painstakingly erect.
It’s the only thing that will assure me
of what I can’t assure myself,
that I’m really worth something.
But I don’t tell you this.
I don’t dare to, I’m afraid to.
I’m afraid your glance will not be followed by acceptance,
will not be followed by love.
I’m afraid you’ll think less of me,
that you’ll laugh, and your laughter would kill me.
I’m afraid that deep-down I’m nothing
and that you will see this and reject me.

So I play my game, my desperate pretending game,
with a facade of assurance without
and a trembling child within.
So begins the glittering but empty parade of masks,
and my life becomes a front.
I idly chatter to you in the suave tones of surface talk.
I tell you everything that’s really nothing,
and nothing of what’s everything,
of what’s crying within me.
So when I’m going through my routine
do not be fooled by what I’m saying.
Please listen carefully and try to hear what I’m not saying,
what I’d like to be able to say,
what for survival I need to say,
but what I can’t say.

I don’t like hiding.
I don’t like playing superficial phony games.
I want to stop playing them.
I want to be genuine and spontaneous and me
but you’ve got to help me.
You’ve got to hold out your hand
even when that’s the last thing I seem to want.
Only you can wipe away from my eyes
the blank stare of the breathing dead.
Only you can call me into aliveness.
Each time you’re kind, and gentle, and encouraging,
each time you try to understand because you really care,
my heart begins to grow wings–
very small wings,
very feeble wings,
but wings!

With your power to touch me into feeling
you can breathe life into me.
I want you to know that.
I want you to know how important you are to me,
how you can be a creator–an honest-to-God creator–
of the person that is me
if you choose to.
You alone can break down the wall behind which I tremble,
you alone can remove my mask,
you alone can release me from my shadow-world of panic,
from my lonely prison,
if you choose to.
Please choose to.

Do not pass me by.
It will not be easy for you.
A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.
The nearer you approach to me the blinder I may strike back.
It’s irrational, but despite what the books say about man
often I am irrational.
I fight against the very thing I cry out for.
But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls
and in this lies my hope.
Please try to beat down those walls
with firm hands but with gentle hands
for a child is very sensitive.

Who am I, you may wonder?
I am someone you know very well.
For I am every man you meet
and I am every woman you meet.

© Marabi Amfaal Hydara
The Humanitarian Poet

YCFaC: The That of The Community

Your Change For a Change
Deems to serve humanity
All the people in the community
Vested with duty not by the government
Always answer to a call at any moment
On non emergencies to save a life in torment!

Humanitarian men and women of vision
Eager to work to fulfill a mission
Different treatments are available
In combating disease so variable
Get in touch with YCFaC when you need their services
At all times you will be served not kick
Let these young Humanitarians make your life's clock tick!

Cease not your trust and confidence
Every time you come to consult with prudence
None is rejected when one needs Health Fair treatment
To avail of the best cures for an ailment
Entrust  your pains for medical support
Reciprocates them with good rapport!

Our Health Fair program
Is available for every community without a dime
We consider not your location
We are determined in every motion
Our hearts have been robed with kind lotion
Serving the community is our propagation
Caring for someone from a strange location
Our works aren't magic nor imagination
Giving to the vulnerables is our supplication
I would always cherish and embrace the time we had in socialisation

We Are That Of The Community
And we must feel nothing at all
Amid all the commotion
Ardent to push the mission
Anxious to reach the site
Determined to save lives
Composed as if unfeeling
Expecting the worst, yet still hoping

For today, I will show you the That Of The Community
When you show me a volunteer

Show me a person who spends endless hours in training without pay,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community.

Show me a person where a cry for help brings split-second dispatch,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community.

Show me a person who is devastated when lives are lost or maimed,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community.

Show me a person who is graciously welcomed as a next-door neighbor,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community.

Show me a person who takes ridicule more than compliments,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community.

Show me a person who may be asked to give more than just dedication,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community.

Show me a person who always answers to the call of the vulnerable,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community.

Show me a person who gives free services,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community.

Show me a person who is asked to give more... and more... and more,
And, I'll show you the That of The Community. .
We posses all these qualities and never shed tears,
                           BECAUSE
WE ARE THAT OF THE COMMUNITY

©Marabi Amfaal Hydara
The Humanitarian Poet

Regret

How do you go on knowing that you failed
and all your friends suddenly disappeared and bailed
Can you see the shame on everyone's face
and your parents look at you like your the biggest disgrace
All this time you blamed everyone else
but all along it was none other than yourself
Now your stuck here paying the price
It's up to you, how are you going to change your life
Will you sit there and look like your lost
or are you going to get up and pay the cost
Don't sit there and reminisce the past
for the future is coming and it's coming fast
So make some memories, ones to remember
because you my friend will graduate in December
So how do you go on knowing that you failed
just smile to the world cause you could have bailed

©Marabi Amfaal Hydara
The Humanitarian Poet