UPDATE - March 2008 - After little more than a year working with the charity and after a number of incidents Musa felt it necessary to make public allegations that the chairman (Francis) was dishonest. These allegations were immediately reported to the trustees who setup an investigation.

I (Francis) was interviewed in the UK during December 2007 and all the UK trustees travelled to Gambia during early 2008 to check further on the allegations.

On every issue raised by Musa, there was found to be no case what so ever to answer, Musa refused to co-operate with the investigation and from early December 2007 absented himself from the office, At the end of January Musa's employment was terminated and his salary payments for December and January used to offset money he still owed the charity.

The trustees have insisted that a UK administrator is appointed reversing the charities previous policy of using only Gambian paid staff.

When mud gets thrown, there is always the aftermath of some of it sticking - the 'no smoke without fire' syndrome. GTS and GETS operate a policy of airing all issues in public, members of GTS and GETS will be welcome to the UK AGM of the charity in August 2008 details will be in the next GETS newsletter and I will be happy to discuss any of the issues raised with attending members.

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Musa starts with a massive backlog of work left when Ousman our previous secretary appointed in April 06 - left Gambia for the USA, no notice no warning - he just left, (it is a pity that embasseys do not contact employers before issuing visa's, but that is not how things operate here in Gambia.)

Many see Europe or USA as the answer to their dreams - rather like Dick Whittington and the streets of London being paved with gold. The reality is poorly paid work if they manage to get work or a shifty life within the expat community doing illegal work with no permits. But even this often provides enough to still send home to Gambia more than they can earn in full time employment in Gambia.

Anyway enough of a whinge about Ousman.

Musa has many years previous experience working for the Red Cross in Gambia and we welcome him to GTS and GETSuk - with the immediate remit of getting the student files into order and returning reports and accounts to the UK, so sponsors who have waited far too long for proper feedback will now start to get it over the GETS website as well as from Sheila the UK Sponsorship Secretary.

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