Re: .africa gTLD

["Tierno S. Bah" <tsbah@afriq.net>]

Dr Nii Narku Quaynor wrote:

> 
> I am simply not in favor of special things being done for Africa
> or Africans unless it is universal ie. .asia, .latin, .europe etc.
> What is needed is fairness and uniformity.
> When, we get singled out we begin to lose our ability to compete
> equally for all services and supplies. We also end up being patronized.
> Some of us want to be with the rest not singled out.
> 

I submitted the .africa gTLD after weeks of lurking on this list. It
follows up on previous suggestions regarding the assignment of gTLDs to
the ITU's seven (?) regions, including Europe, America, Asia. The case
was also made for the Middle East by the Administrator of the Syria TLD.
The proposal for a .africa gTLD espouses that broad approach. It does
not single out Africa, negatively at least. As for "being patronized",
trust me, I share your sensitivity as both an African and a
technologist. I wouldn't let that happen to me or to anything I do with
respect to Africa.

> 
> The money issue is no different in any other situation. Pay fair
> market value or get your service elsewhere.
> 

I disagree. The money situation is different in Africa than in other
places. Just look at the per capita income in our countries. Think about
the tough conditions faced by the middle class, particularly
intellectual workers: faculty, health specialists, researchers,
students. There is no way they can afford the astronomical rates posted
by Frederick Gregoire. To invoke free market principles in his favor is
totally missing the point. This guy would never invest his money,
securely stashed away in a Swiss bank, into education, training, etc. in
Zaire, Congo, Burundi, Rwanda. He's typical of a new breed of foreign
technological wheeler-dealers. He is the equivalent of the 19th century
adventurers (Cecil Rhodes, Brazza, Stanley, etc.), who paved the way for
the formal domination of Africa by European governments. His activities
highlight a savage and virulent type of capitalism that will not benefit
Africa.
Let's be consistent in fairness and in business.