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> There is no political will to solve the Year 2000 problem.
I can't say much about that, at least for West Africa.
The problem as I see it in West Africa is total ignorance of the problem.
Even some IT companies don't know this problem exists. The other day I was
talking about this with one of the foremost IT companies in the Gambia and
the Manager told me Y2K only affects networks. I hope you get the woeful
picture.
>
> I was disappointed to observe that the Clinton/Mandela talks
> missed a wonderful opportunity to put a Y2k program in place for Africa.
>
I wouldn't count on that. The West is struggling to put their homes in
order as regards Y2K. They'll only think of helping Africa out after the
fact.
> My advice to my colleagues in Africa is therefore
> to grab "infrastructural" assistance, but avoid "technology" at all costs.
> The only hope we have is that Africa is not as dependent on
> technology as the rest of the world. We live with disaster, we are
> used to it.
Don't give up yet. I think though you have done quite a lot on this in SA,
others elsewhere have not even started creating awareness of the problem.
Their governments don't know what could happen. We need to publicise the
issues more. It will in most cases just cost us our time. Loads of
articles in local newspapers and where possible TV programmes should get
some people in government thinking. Be sure to use the DOOM and GLOOM
technique, they love that. Don't forget to mention that the expensive
presidential jet will fly no more come 2000 (at the risk of being thrown
into jail if the jet does fly without remedy ;-)).
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Osay Osman Yuuni Tel: 00220 495442/6 or 00220 993309
Head of Computing Fax: 00220 495919
MRC Laboratories, Fajara email: [log in to unmask]
PO Box 273, Banjul ---------------------------------------------
The Gambia Wars are barbaric and so are those that wage
them. In the absence of armies and their tools
of murder more civilised methods of resolving
misunderstandings between peoples will evolve
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... And woman shall inherit the earth. Blessed are their fathers for
they shall have representatives to look after their affairs.
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