In the Gambia, when will the rain stop beating us? I submit in 1994 when we, Gambians chose and adopted totalitarian system of government.
We are now reaping the consequences which include most of the ills associated with raw capitalism and worshipping of man, man-made gods: leaders, power and materials; instead of the revealed God.
President Adama Barrow may be timid and not pigeon-hearted, but he is not stupid. He is not tired of being president like someone he upstaged. He has no ambition to become a martyr and therefore won’t offer himself to be nailed to the cross for some ill-defined democracy. He was destined to lead this once, proud nation on the path to greatness once more and experienced honor to rule and that has been his portion since the beginning of time of the coalition victory in 2016.
President Barrow is a very brilliant man. He can, in one short sentence, deliver a thick brew of sarcasm and satire and irony and other ingredients of hemlock for the side he chooses to fight.
You are preparing for a war and you think it is a winning strategy to give your armor to the enemy. Who does that except the one who is tired of everything? Before this case, I had not heard of a human being opting for suicide as a short-cut to being loved and canonized by his enemies. President Barrow loved his foes so fondly that even they loudly announced their shock at his lion turning out a lamb.
President Adama Barrow is a strongman breathing down on a gasping nation. By popular demand, his hurricane rushed out coalition 2016 and its tired tactical alliance two years ago. The power of that hurricane may have been considerably reduced by the wear-and-tear of (mis)used energy, but the power-holder does not believe anything has changed. His market is still full, he boasts and dares anyone to hold an opinion that puts a lie to his. That is the world of strongmen.
Writing in Time magazine in May 2018, Ian Bremmer said humanity has arrived the shore of puritanical macho leaders: “In every region of the world, changing times have boosted public demand for more muscular, assertive leadership. These tough-talking populists promise to protect “us” from “them.”
Depending on who’s talking, “them” can mean the corrupt elite or the grasping poor; foreigners or members of racial, ethnic or religious minorities. Or disloyal politicians, bureaucrats, bankers or judges. Or lying reporters. Out of this divide, a new archetype of leader has emerged. We’re now in the strongman era.”
Adama Barrow fits right here. He is saving us from the past – all the past – except his own part of the past. If you ask him, he will beat his chest and say 2 years from now, his mountain will be in the Statehouse, immovable. And that will be because strongmen don’t lose allies, they don’t quit – even with court orders- they stay. They don’t go home; power is their home.
Ousanou Darboe is a very confident, hard-to-break man – a political footballer who believes his every pass must reach its destination, and his every shot a goal. When a man’s can-do spirit sculpts his image on the granite of his people’s political history, he would princely price himself in pure diamond.
Ousainou did that with the boast that his opponents are gone forever in the South-West. He has managed to foist his hegemonic ideology on a choosy, proud race, so far without consequences. That was why he was sure his tendency would prevail forever. But, is that what history teaches?
History will not be history if what it says is that there are empires which last forever. If you are an Ousainou Darboe believer, wait a little before you disagree with this view. The man himself agreed with this position a day before the Barrow’s declaration. Ousainou is an ardent fan of floundering, drab Manchester United, a club that has seen better times like today’s struggling UDP.
But why would a clever Ousainou Darboe not see the turbulence of football as a hint for his politics? If the titanic Manchester United could flounder ceaselessly as it does, who says a political party can’t suffer same fate if it also has the wrong coach? And UDP has an efficient, effective wrong coach now! Every empire has an autumn — an end.
Ousainou leads a far-right orchestra which he would rather package as a progressive party. He is so effective acting Big Brother that he now thinks, seriously, that he would be the lord of this animal farm forever — whatever he does with the farm and its products.
There is a problem when an abusive husband boasts that the wife is stuck with his trauma forever. He has reasons to think so. And you all know you are the reasons. His party would rule the land forever even as vital in remain forever comatose, altering destinies in their hundreds of thousands.
His party would remain the darling of everyone, including those serving in the diplomatic service whose and in other prestigious positions in the Civil service. Because he has carefully spread his “our time and our own to eat” ideology across the physical space, penetrating all social categories, his supporters now see themselves as privileged beneficiaries.
And because he has been so successful doing these, his fingers are on every pie and his eyes on every friend to keep — and on every foe to buy or break. So, has the future of the South-West (with its trophies) been sold wholesale and forever to this clever, smart, wily, even devastatingly foxy Man-United?
The answer cannot be Yes unless the Ousainou club abandons its buccaneer ways and always does good. That is what can give the club any hope of a long-lasting reign on the league table. Even then, the Real de Banjul, should rather see the football club called Manchester United, with its paradise lost, as a living proof.
Gambia’s political class knows there are those who will unquestioningly swallow its propaganda. The leader’s tribal grip is the gasp of mass hysteria. The politician knows you will nonsensically rationalize anything the master has said, no matter how ridiculous.
In the circumstances, is there such a thing as objective truth in the country? Is sober conversation possible? An ethnically docile population such as ours is dangerous to itself, to the country and to future generations. Such is the tragedy of zombie republics.
And in one fell swoop, Alagi can deliver a tantalizing brew of satire and sarcasm!
I think Alagi is inflicted with a Darboe-phobia. We must always bear in mind that the strength of Darboe or UDP (in the Absence of a state machinery behind them for more 22 years) is also an indication that other parties are structurally weak to make inroads into other voter Areas or communities apart from the once they are already strong in. Take pdois for example, Halifa is practically limited to Serrekunda. In the Badibus or Jarra’s he is no name. Now I don’t think that is squarely UDP’s fault. I would think if Halifa should show interest and engage these communities (visiting them and speaking with them in their languages), the people will be enlightened about his and pdois goals and objectives for the country.
It is very simplistic to search for excuses by accusing UDP of poisoning the political climate. This narrative also insults the intelligence of the voters. Most times am quite surprised about comments here that demand a tremendous magnanimity (large-heartedness) from UDP.
That is nowhere the case. If you accuse Darboe & UDP of identity politics, you go on the offensive and prove to the populace otherwise. You don’t resign down, remain in your comfort zone and demand from your political opponent to “politically behave”.
Quotes @Kinteh (Kemo):
1. “…….the strength of Darboe or UDP…….is also an indication that other parties are structurally weak to make inroads into other voter Areas……”
Observation: Please explain the deficiency(ies) in the structure of, say PDOIS, that prevents it from making “in roads into other voter areas”.
2. ” I would think if Halifa should show interest and engage these communities (visiting them and speaking with them in their languages), the people will be enlightened about his and pdois goals and objectives for the country.”
Observation: Are you claiming here that Halifa has neither shown interest, nor engaged the communities of Badibu and Jarra since he emerged on the political scene?
Take pdois for example, Halifa is practically limited to Serrekunda. In the Badibus or Jarra’s he is no name. Now I don’t think that is squarely UDP’s fault. I would think if Halifa should show interest and engage these communities (visiting them and speaking with them in their languages), the people will be enlightened about his and pdois goals and objectives for the country.
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A very interesting observation, nevertheless, a flawed one at that.
First, Halifa is not PDOIS and this political party is not limited to Serrekunda. Ousman Sillah of BJL north, Sidia and Sawaibou of the Wulis are not from Serrekunda. Or do you mean to say the urban dwellings?
You will have to dissect the history of party politics in the rural settings of The Gambia to understand why PDOIS is “yet” to make huge numerical gains in those villages and towns. Of course UDP cannot be blamed for this but the political model responsible for this, is also one successfully employed by your party.
The leadership of the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism is well travelled through the length and breath of the country. Beginning in the 80s when Foroyaa Newspaper used to be loose A4 size papers stapled together. These were the times when Halifa learned to speak Mandinka taught by Hon. Sidia Jatta. Hon. Halifa Sallah spent so much time in Wuli that he has adapted the Mandinka dialect of Bolongkono. If you say he does not speak the langauage of the people, you are just being mean spirited KK. Even political opponents should learn to show respect to each other by not spreading false informations.
Let’s assume “speak the language of the people” has a different connotation to it in this case, which will mean the people do not understand the message of PDOIS. You see DOI as a party has understood that physical slavery and territorial colonialism has somehow come to an end. But the chains of mental slavery and psychological domination are yet to be broken. And that takes time.
Drums, asobis, benachin and long fleets of cars are the measures of ones political clout in the rural areas of The Gambia, even in the Kombos. Sadly enough, the poor people who are promised heaven on earth are the ones who put money together to finance such undertakings. I remember my mother and her fellows in the hundreds, working in the fields in a tradition called “baara keyoo”, and getting paid. These monies are then utilized to buy asobi, bulls, rice, oil etc because Sheriff Mustapha Dibba (NCP) was going to have a meeting in our village.
Sheriff and his entourage will show up for little more than three hours and they are gone to the next village/town. My mother and co have always fulfilled their side of the bargain. The political parties, i.e PPP, NCP, GDP, etc, are never seen again until the next election cycle.
PDOIS knows this is a rip-off! UDP sees it as an opportunity to maintain the status quo and continue the rip-off to live luxurious lives at the expense of the poor whom they are suppose to be saving from such forces.
Halifa observed this phenomenon and said the following always: born in poverty, live and exist in poverty and die in poverty. Mwalimu adds the following: born in perpetual darkness, live in perpetual darkness and perish in perpetual darkness. That is reality of the majority of Gambians. As a consolation, we are told to believe in God because he caused our poverty. That’s the insult to the intelligence of the electorate.
But again to demystify what you are saying, go to Wuli to experience the level of political enlightenment there. Does it mean Sidia is permanently based there to teach the people about the objectives of PDOIS? Far from it. It means the people are ready by their own free will, to consume the message of the party. You can’t force it.
PDOIS was never and will never be engaged in inducements or intimidation tactics to win votes. It will also not be selling ethnolinguistic messages to make anyone vote for it. So the votes become one of quality above quantity.
Get it?
Yours in the service of The Gambia and Afrikka, I remain.
First Bax, What I am saying is that I haven’t seen or heard footage or audio in which Halifa – on his own- is in the badibus and Jarra enlightening the people. I am not saying that Darboe is doing this. But since we are talking about “freeing” the people from this ethnocentric mentality, I would tend to think that Halifa would just walk-down to Badibu and tell the communities the “truth” and educate them about the fallacy of ethnolingusitc adherence.
Second Mwalimu, What I am questioning is that leaders and PDOIS message and goals are yet to convince the people in the areas mentioned? The notions in many commentaries, like the one above, is that because UDP poisoned the political climate. Is that not simplistic? Why wouldn’t the people of Badibu be receptive to “commonsense” as the people of Wuli supposedly are? Are there differences?
Kinteh (Kemo), how can you talk about “intelligence of voters” when:
1. They kept Jawara in power for 3 decades, with very little to show for it;
2. They kept Jammeh in power for 2 decades, with all his brutality and wastage;
3. The likes of Mama Kandeh can lead parties and attract thousands of votes at presidential elections;
4. Parties that never speak about their programmes and policies can attract thousands into their ranks.
I am not one to insult people, voters or not, but I struggle to see how “intelligence” (only politically) can be imputed to the Gambian voters, given how they have behaved in politics for the past 5+ decades.
UDP’s strength and popularity is better understood from its origins, its politics and the prevailing political circumstances under which it emerged and functioned/operated. It is neither due to its structure, nor programmes/policies or clarity of vision for the country.
What I am questioning is that leaders and PDOIS message and goals are yet to convince the people in the areas mentioned? The notions in many commentaries, like the one above, is that because UDP poisoned the political climate. Is that not simplistic? Why wouldn’t the people of Badibu be receptive to “commonsense” as the people of Wuli supposedly are? Are there differences?
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Thank you for keeping a very important discussion going.
The message of DOI is very simple, very clear and very consistent, from the beginning until today. That’s why Mwalimu/Karamoko supports it and spread it further.
First, the party has realized that taxes collected from the people should be invested in the productive base of the economy to accrue profits for social services.
Second, that the sovereignty of the nation lies in each and every citizen of The Gambia. That power should only be utilized for the betterment of the general welfare of the people.
Third, that The Gambia and Gambia people are indivisible due to the tragic history of colonialism that carve a land mass called Gambia along the coastal line of W/Afrikka, without taking into cognizance any cultural differences that might have prevailed in that era.
For that being the case, we have an existential duty to foster a sense of national unity irrespective of our ethnolinguistic differences. And that these difference should be a source of strength and not communal strives.
But then political parties of old, has already firmly planted the concept of a vote for a bag of rice. This is the same tactic used by both the aprc and the udp, delaying the work for progression in consciousness and prosperity.
The difference between Badibu and Wuli lies in the fact that both Halifa, Sam, Sidia etc are doing work in their various regions limiting their capacity to extend the same work in the length and width of the country. This is where you and I come it.
Are the youths of the Gambia ready to step in, to continue the revolutionary work that was started by DOI if the founding members are physically no more with us?
Yours in the service of The Gambia and Afrikka, I remain.
Democracy is beautiful and perhaps, the best system of governance devised by humans, so far, but susceptibilities inherent within its practice(s), can have effects that may pose existential threats to any society or nation.
One of the beauties of democracy is the right of citizens to choose representatives, through elections, but this aspect of democracy has been so misunderstood, so ineffectively exercised and so abused that it is often the root cause(s) of most (if not all) political conflicts around the world, particularly in Africa.
Despite this fact, there is very little effort, if any at all, to look at this aspect of democracy and ask whether we need to adapt it to suit our circumstances, taking our history and how we did things in the past into consideration. In other words, can we eliminate election from our democracy and replace it with national/regional bodies that select representatives for public office, given that elections have resulted, not only to conflict, but also to the election of popular but useless individuals into public office?
I know China is demonised as a Communist State that oppresses its citizens, but there is something worthy of note in the way they identify state officials. Here, identification to public office is preceeded by first gaining admission into the ONE and ONLY Communist Party. Once a member of the Communist Party, one now has to prove oneself by hardwork and unwavered commitment to the party either remain an ordinary party member or become a party/state official and rise up through the ranks to the very summit of party and state.
This process ensures that those who sit on the Central Committee of the Communist party or similar state institutions or organs and assume National roles have proven themselves after years of hardwork, and are ready for the jobs they are given. That’s why China has become what it is today. It is a country that has no room for “square pegs in round holes” and that’s something we can learn and gain a lot from, can’t we?
The story of Xi Jinping, current Chinese President is particularly inspiring. From being a near pauper, after princely beginnings (Dad was a well placed Communist Party Leader who was purged from the party in 1962), Xi rose through the ranks, to become General Secretary of the Communist Party (and Chairman of the Central Military Commission) and eventually, the President of the People’s Republic in 2014.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for him. With his father having lost his position in the Communist Party, young Xi was sent to work on a remote farm, when all formal education was halted at the inception of the cultural revolution. There, he did back breaking manual work and lived on a subsistence diet.
Having gained admittance to the Communist Party in 1974, after several rejections, Xi began his steady rise through the ranks, by virtue of hard work, descipline and commitment, to become the President of the People’s Republic in 2014, having held several leadedrship positions in several provinces along the way to the very top. (Biography of Xi Jinping)
Thus today, China has a President who understands the workings of the Communist Party, knows the direction of the country and can hold his own against any leader on the world stage. The lesson we can learn is that leaders should NEVER be catapulted from NOBODIES (like Barrow & possibly Mama Kandeh) into the very top leadership position of a whole nation, but that is exactly what elections can do, when the right to choose reps is misunderstood, exercised wrongly and always abused, as we do in The Gambia.
As long as Gambians are hungry, we will never make good decisions. We will never choose good leaders and we will always fall for the same nonsensical political message. This notion of Darboe and Barrow frankly is not worth our energy. It is what it is, a MIRAGE, a political illusion. One thing for sure, if we want a perfect Union, a stable democracy, law and order, we must work for it.
1. We must hold politicians responsible. They all LIE, some more than others.
2. We must be willing to vote them out if they FAIL to perform. Most are CLUELESS.
3. We must accept that ALL politicians are CROOKS. They STEAL our money.
4. We must be willing to work hard and smart to FEED ourselves. They won’t do it.
5. We must actively participate in ALL things AGRICULTURE, ECONOMICS and EDUCATION.
I personally don’t care about political influence and who wields it, I expect that. What I care about, what I have control over, MY VOICE and VOTE. You will never have the opportunity to FOOL me twice. You want to know why, because I will VOTE you out every time.
God Bless The Gambia.
Your Points are relevant and the observations regarding effective application of the ideals of Democracy. Actually the Democracy ideology is about spreading the responsibility of Managing a Country among many heads. That is why the talk of Separation of powers and strong institutions like the Courts to uphold laws. But all these ideals are for the cats if Consensus is not reached. There are many forms of democracy dispensation and each country or region need to find the best practice compatible with culture, traditions, composition of cultural identities inhabiting the country.
For example, I find it strange that African countries didn’t find a formula in which all ethnolinguistic groups are represented in a power sharing model. You mentioned China. But there is the case of Singapore or Switzerland. In the later, they have a governing council comprising of 7 members. The presidency rotates among these members every year. Admission to this body is through parliament vote and based on party representation in parliament.
Or the Singapore model with a semi-democratic one party state with a dynasty at the head of the pyramid that has proved very professional since 50 years. IF Jawara or Jammeh with their families or cronies were as professional, we would gone a long way. But they are not because Zainab for examples had other agendas than her husband – Fatoumatta Bah is currently displaying the same dead-end adventure.
Of course, these examples are not applicable to bigger countries who might work better with federal systems.
Indeed Kinteh (Kemo), adapting any system to suit local/national circumstances is the trick to success, but for some reason, we don’t know how to do this in Africa. We just “swallow” everything we are given: hook, line and sinker.
I just got asked whether there will be a “Third World War” and my response is: without doubt, we are heading towards a major global conflict. It’s obvious for anyone who knows history of conflicts and can see the signs/writing on the world.
The competition for dominance and scramble for resources, coupled with worsening economic conditions and mass dissatisfaction of home populations is what has often preceded wars. We are now not only witnessing these conditions but we can also actually see preparations for war bright under our own eyes. We even hear declarations of war from officials of the hegemonic powers.
The unfortunate tragedy is that Africa’s leaders are not alive to the dangers that the emerging world situation poses to the existence of the African people as a free and dignified people. I have made this observation before, and I will make it again: whatever world emerges after this anticipated global conflict, it will NOT be a world where Africans would want to live. Don’t ask me why; just try and figure it out yourself.
All I can say is that we may have let ourselves down and we will pay very, very dearly.
@ Bax, ‘The unfortunate tragedy is that Africa’s leaders are not alive to the dangers that the emerging world situation poses to the existence of the African people as a free and dignified people. I have made this observation before, and I will make it again: whatever world emerges after this anticipated global conflict, it will NOT be a world where Africans would want to live. Don’t ask me why; just try and figure it out yourself.
All I can say is that we may have let ourselves down and we will pay very, very dearly’.
Bax, we do not have to look too far to see this very phenomenon at play.
It’s at our own doorstep. Gambians young and old, will only accord respect to the fellow that holds the purse strings. All in the name of greed!
When we let our rag tag leaders go on endless borrowing and begging escapades, aren’t they getting the younger generation mired in debt? Tying their hands on their backs it is!
What respect, security or dignity can the younger generation count on to hold their heads high up?
Frankly, dignity, freedom, decorum and a good legacy have become the least of African worries!
Indeed we are letting ourselves down every day when it’s quite clear that selfless and altruistic leadership is virtually non-existent.
What I am questioning is that leaders and PDOIS message and goals are yet to convince the people in the areas mentioned? The notions in many commentaries, like the one above, is that because UDP poisoned the political climate. Is that not simplistic? Why wouldn’t the people of Badibu be receptive to “commonsense” as the people of Wuli supposedly are? Are there differences?
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Yes there are big and obvious differences. Sidia, Sam, Halifa, Suwaibou etc can’t be everywhere every time. This is where you and I and the others come in. The question is rather this: is the youth of The Gambia ready to take up the responsibility of revolutionary work when this generation is physically no more with us? Do we have their determination to sacrifice fat pay checks, luxurious cars, air conditioned offices, big houses and other privileges for the common good? It will be unfair to leave the work to a few people, who in fact have sacrificed everything already.
UDP should realize that you are either part of the solution or you are a problem to be solved. There is no middle ground. Unfortunately, the party you are supporting fits in the latter category. History shall see no difference between the Modus operandi of the United Democratic Party and the PPP,NCP, UP and the rest. It capitalized on the political vacuum, albeit a decadent one, created by the absence of its predecessors mentioned, to continue the politics of personality cults, ethnic parasitism and fabricated narratives.
It’s not that the message is not getting across to the people, the problem is the political culture of A VOTE for A BAG OF RICE.
APRC, UDP, PPP, NCP, NRP, you name it, are all in one time or the other engaged in either inducement or intimidation to garner votes. The evidences are all over on social media sites. To compare and contrast the level and quality of honest political proganda and vote canvassing, choose any of the parties I mentioned and compared it to those of the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism, DOI.
Are the people convinced about the message? Yes, very much so. How many times have you heard the party being branded a party of truth, honesty and humility? And its members/supporters as never getting involved in political character assassinations, fracases, strives and so on and so forth.
I hope I have in my little ability as a big fan and supporter of this party, laid out the case for you to consider joining us in the noble struggle to free OUR PEOPLE from the shackles of the mental chains that continue to bound us in poverty, ignorance and chronic underdevelopment.
No one from Japan, China, France, Canada etc will help us to get to where we aspire to be. Only we ourselves have to do the work and at the end of the day, look at ourselves in the mirror and say: we have given it all and now we are there.
Andy Pjalo and Bax, have indeed all spoken for me.
Yours in the service of The Gambia and Afrikka, I remain.
Until now, all the various administrations have been beating the drum of a private sector lead or private sector driven economy for The Gambia. The two terms are different but used interchangeably to mean the same thing. I believe no one cares about that.
What they both mean, however, is the utilization of private capital by private individuals to invest in the various sectors of the economy to spur growth. Government, it is claimed, will only be there to “create the enabling environment” that will allow businesses to thrive with minimal regulation.
This was the economic mantra of Dawda Jawara, Yaya Jammeh, now Adama Barrow, and interestingly the same economic doctrine is contained in the political manifesto of the United Democratic Party (UDP). So what outcome has been realized from private investment in The Gambia?
The bulk of the money is in equities that are lock-jammed in the financial markets as treasury bills. The banking and insurance industry uses this as an opportunity to sit on huge cash loads that they then use to buy more treasury bills and make profits regardless of the market conditions. The cost for this incessant domestic borrowing by the government has to be foot, of course by the tax payer. If that’s not enough, they borrow more and the interest rates go up and price hikes become the order of the day.
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The above is the very reason the central government employs more people than the private sector. A private sector that is nearly non-existent because the governments we’ve had so far don’t know what they are doing.
To ameliorate this situation, one needs to first build the industrial productive base of our economy to satisfy domestic consumption and to export for hard currency to buy goods and services that are not (yet) available in the domestic market.
We have to make sure all agricultural and aquamarine produce are transformed into finished packaged goods before they leave our shores. This will add value which corresponding will grow our economy exponentially. Our mineral resources will not also have to leave our shores without at least undergoing the first stage of processing. The seed money for such an investment could come from the mentioned institutions that are hoarding cash (in the billions) without investing it in the natural circuit of the economy.
The above is not a difficult concept to understand. Is it?
And this is what PDOIS has been selling to the electorate since its inception. As simple as that.
In a rich country as ours, no child should have died from malaria, no woman should be carried on a donkey cart to give birth in a hospital miles away and without the necessary medical equipment and qualified personnel, as did many of our mothers and sisters. No man should have to loose his life because he has a cardiac arrest and there was no doctor available to attend to him, as did to my dear daddy (may he be in the company of the prophets and angel servants).
It’s our moral obligation to hand over a Gambia more fit for living than it has been handed to us.
If politics becomes a game of stuffing the pockets of individuals with stolen money, we will have no right to demand a favorable judgement from history.
Yours in the service of The Gambia and Afrikka, I remain.
Mwalimu, finally I asked my friend who is also supporting PDOIS, what has Sedia and halifa accomplished yet in this legislature? For example Halifa promised to do away with all colonial laws in the constitution. As a lawmaker, he can initiate a Motion to change or do away with many of these laws before the (would be) constitution reform come to pass.
any clue?
Besides that, I hope Jollof Editors can get hold of OJ’s yesterday interview transcript so that we can dwell on. It reportedly contain some revealling informations.
Parliament has 3 basic functions:
1) Legislation
2) Advocacy
3) Scrutiny/Oversight
Halifa cannot say he will repel all colonial laws by his mere presence in the parliament. I believe that’s a task beyond his capacity as a parliamentarian, alone. Getting ALL (REPRESSIVE) COLONIAL LAWS out of the books will require the collaboration of the three branches of the government.
I suspect he meant he will initiate such if PDOIS was to be in charge of the executive branch. But am not sure. I will find out for our benefit.
It’s to my knowledge that any PDOIS NAM has sponsored a bill in parliament. But I know they have constructively scrutinized bills and some end up being passed, others amended and some thrown out.
One thing I talked to Sidia about not long ago, was to linguistically decolonize the space of parliament by creating modalities for ALL our languages to be spoken in the Peoples House. He is advocating for this and am personally looking into ways to play a part in that effort.
If you follow deliberations you will see the PDOIS NAMS posing some of the toughest questions to the various ministers or their reps. In the committees, DOI members have proven to be very resourceful individuals both nationally and beyond our borders.
May I take your questions to mean that you are slowly but sure gyrating towards the national interest, which is the agenda of PDOIS? grins
I am glad you mentioned legislation ( also de-legislation). Has pdois nams sponsored a bill in the current legislature to do away with a bad colonial law in our books? I am not asking whether such a Motion got the backing of the house or got vetoed By the executive. Just a mere iniative to legislate or de-legislate!
Kinteh (Kemo), we have ALL (without exception) agreed that The Gambia needs a New Constitution. We have created the CRC and task it with sounding public opinion around the country.
Won’t it be a waste of time and resources for any member of the Assembly, whether PDOIS or not, to sponsor bills to amend a constitution that will soon be history?
Are you in any doubt that any such action by a PDOIS NAM will be misrepresented? Just look at the reaction of some when PDOIS NAMs did not receive Barrow’s vehicles? Even Darboe had something to say about it on Kerr Fatou.
Removing monarchical/colonial laws from our constitution is a PDOIS Manifesto commitment, but such commitments can only be pursued when in government. I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here, but I hope you are not doubting PDOIS’ resolve to achieve their manifesto pledges.
Bax, I am not doubting anything. Let me put it differently, can you provide us with any legislative achievement that came about that emanates originally from PDOIS NAMs?
My interest is to know what the other parties are doing differently from UDP in the legislature?
Kinteh (Kemo), I can’t provide any passed legislation that originated from PDOIS NAMs, but the same is probably true of any parties (except ruling party) that have occupied seats in Gambian Parliaments since 1965. Private Member’s Bill, by which individual members of parliament can initiate amendments, is not a common practice in Gambia. I think legislation emanating from a private member’s bill has occurred in The Gambia only once and this was in the first republic.
And one can understand why this is the case: voting in Gambian Parliaments is done on party lines, so bringing a private member’s bill may be an exercise in futility, if you are a minority opposition MP/NAM.
There certainly are differences in the way PDOIS and UDP NAMs conduct themselves in the legislature and as legislators. We remember the case of the vehicles and the alleged monthly payments of D10,000 from the President. The quality of contributions on the floor and interventions during adjournment debates, and the insistence of adherence to Standing Orders are also worthy of note.
What do you mean with “legislative achievement”? Do you mean a piece of legislation by an act of parliament that is initiated by a member of parliament from DOI and eventually became law?
If that’s your question, I have already answered that above. I said it’s NOT to my knowledge if any PDOIS NAM has introduced any piece of legislation in parliament. And I thing it’s a legitimate question. That’s why I said I will do my utmost best to get an answer to that question.
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How is the UDP doing it then, that you would like to compare it to the other parties?