President Adama Barrow has used his meeting with the Council of Elders of the West Coast Region to expressed his desire to bequeath a better Gambia that is imbued with a vibrant economy, a constitution that can serve the country for 50 to 100 years; build strong institutions and a responsive security sector that is responsive to democratic principles and rule of law.
The West Coast Region Council of Elders led by Dembo Santang Bojang paid a courtesy call on President Barrow over the weekend at State House where they held frank discussions with the President on matters of pertinent national interests such as peaceful transition and the President’s development agenda.
During the meeting, President Barrow reminded the audience that in some countries, their head of transitional governments are appointed but in the case of The Gambia, he was an elected leader, thus the circumstances are different.
The President said he has options to either serve three years and resign or serve five, and told the Elders that he has made up his mind to serve his full mandate.
However, he recalled that the coalition agreed to institute reform programmes within three years: to review the Constitution before elections are held. His dilated on the transitional programme his government has undertaken including establishment of a Constitutional Review Commission currently engaged in consultations to produce a draft, which will be subjected to approval by the Cabinet, the National Assembly and most importantly a referendum.
The President told the elders that there are important works that have begun and they require completion. “I am going to see them through so that those will become my legacy – institutional building and strengthening; economic and civil service reforms and a comprehensive security sector reform… I am the first president to do a comprehensive security sector audit as soon as I took office,” he maintained.
Stabilising The Economy
When he took office, The Gambia’s national reserves were less than a month’s import cover, and a 120 per cent national debt-to-GDP ratio. Treasury bills went as high as 23 per cent due to non-liquidity of the reserves. Commercial banks were lending between 28 and 30 per cent to enable them make easy money from such trades.
President Barrow was upbeat with the growth in the economy and stated: “Today, those narratives have changed. The interest rates are down to 9 percent, compelling commercial banks to lend at 15 per cent interest rates. The government is no longer relying on borrowing money from them as the coffers remain liquid enough.
“Foreign currency reserves at the Central Bank stood at $35million. We have paid up those loans and accumulated a reserve of over $200 million. The government held multiple accounts across the banking sector. We integrated all of them into a single consolidated account for government,” he explained to the elders, arguing that the $35million was in fact a loan to government at the time.
The president added that the revenue base of the Gambia was only D500 million per month in January 2017. He further recalled how the new government struggled to pay salaries of workers.
He added: “Today, government has opened up the economy to investors and other activities to enable it raise the revenue by 100 per cent to D1billion each month. However, 60 per cent of this revenue is paid to loans, equivalent to D600million. Out of this D400 million, up to D300 million is spent on salaries of civil servants alone, which were raised by 50 per cent in 2019. The remaining D100 million is not sufficient to operationalise government projects, build roads, and provide electricity and water supplies among other development needs of the country.
“Hence the government is compelled to bring forth some innovative ideas to engage bilateral partners. The development projects being undertaken today are not coming as a result of funds from government coffers. Rather, they are as a result of strategies we employ to deliver on those projects.”
Road networks
The Gambia had only 750 kilometres of tarred roads when the Barrow government came into office in 2017. These include those constructed by the former two governments since independence. Currently, the country has over 300 kilometres of road construction works ongoing.
“It means, my government is constructing in three years 50 per cent of what had been constructed in 52 years by the former governments,” he added.
Rule of law
The Barrow government values rule of law, which is why it emphasises the due process in all maters it conducts. The President therefore calls on all to respect the rule of law. As Head of State, he said he is obliged to respect the law.
On the diaspora, President Barrow explained his government’s expectations. ”We believe that being in the UK, France or the USA will put you in position to appreciate respect for the rule of law in those countries.”
He called for commitment to the development of the country and for citizens to take the lead while others give their support.
In the same vein, he argued that no one should also accept that all the works done in five years to be destroyed in just three days.
“That should not be acceptable, and it is not for President Barrow; rather, that is for the Gambia,” he said.
“Our first achievement as government is the freedom for all to express themselves. In fact, that is our biggest achievement… we respect the right of all politicians to conduct their campaigns and activities within the law. Hence security is provided to the opposition parties when they go about their political activities.”
He further maintained that democracy needs to be tempered with responsibility and mutual respect. Otherwise, it will set a precedent that will have negative consequences in this country.
“Personally, I am of the belief that my term in office will end someday and someone will take over from me. It is my sincere prayer that I will peacefully hand-over power to my successor here, just as it happened in Mauritania and Nigeria. There is nothing more beautiful than that. We should be prepared to emulate and even do better in setting those example,” the President added.
He also does not want his successor to go through some of the difficulties that he experienced when he came to office. For example, his government has already ensured a five month-reserve at the Central Bank, considering that they inherited less than a month’s reserve.
“I wish to bequeath a year’s reserve for my successor. When we took office in 2017, the economy was projected to grow by 2 per cent, in 2018 by 5 per cent. This year, we are estimating a 6.6per cent growth. This is indication that we are progressing,” he emphasised.
Such meetings are the very menaces to our democracy and development. These kind of meetings are the type of cultural and traditional energies that has permantly kepts us in a dusty littered country. Perhaps some of those elders had once open a time sent a similar delegation to Yayah the cannibal and his ranks of killers.
When will an elder from such delegations tell a president: Mr. president learn not to be power hungry? I think elders should starting taking a much more justifiable role towards our democracy and national development aspirations than going in a group to statehouse for some food and cold drinks and to get bribed with their own tax moneys. It is time overdue that councils of elders try winning the confidence and the trust of the younger generation.
Quote @Jack: “Perhaps some of those elders had once open a time sent a similar delegation to Yayah the cannibal and his ranks of killer.”
Yes Jack, not only have some of them been in delegations to State House in the past, one was the face behind the call for Lt. Yaya Jammeh to dump his uniform and contest elections.
This person is no other than the reported head of this delegation: Dembo Santang Bojang.
This is the same person who spearheaded the campaign to “convince” (not that he needed any convincing) Lt. Yaya Jammeh in 1994/96. Peope like him are indeed a serious threat to our democratic aspirations, particularly our desire to institute Presidential Term Limits, for such people will not hesitate to send delegations to State House and call for the abrogation of term limits, when a sitting president approaches the end of his/her final term. We must show our disapproval for this kind of sycophancy and their attempts to seek cheap popularity and recognition, if not for underserved material gains.
A lot should been achieved done by now! Why the deliberate stalling to remove the Bad Laws you guys referred to as bad ones during your campaign. WHY is POTG Barrow nice n cozy with APRC ( The Coalition’s hatch opponents!) ! who r still wearing T’ shirts with Jammeh’s photo , why recycling Jammeh’s cohorts ? When the Autocratic style? Why ostracize Professionals, like me, that left my highly paid job, to come home n contribute my quota. I v had several 4 meetings with Bai Lamin Jobe.. Back n forth to UK.. All to No avail! He see me as an activist, which I v been, since he and many were sitting on their laurels.. He is not doing you a favour by blocking ppl like me ( skillful n Patriotic) I hope others are not blocking Good Gambians that just wanna be part of Nation building. Lastly, For Allah’s sake : Stop see Activists as enemies ; cus they are Not!!
PEACE PROTEST IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF DEMOCRACY. **Your worst crtlitic is your Best friend. Sycophants are like sponge / leeches, waiting to soak…n don’t give a damn what happens afterwards.. Look no further than the way ppl are distancing themselves from Jammeh their Dear friend. I am one that relate only with Honest, Selfless people , Allah fearing, Fair and Just folks… **No Partisanship if one really wants Gambia to Thrive. Fair enough fo others that chose a different path. I LOVE ALL GAMBIANS BUT WON’T CHANGE WHAT MY DAD N MYSELF STAND FOR
*FOR THE GAMBIA EVER TRUE. 3/5Yrs no qualms, so lond as Gambia move in the right direction. Salam
Blame jollofnews and freedom newspaper for giving Adama Barrow useless platform to sprew nonsense propaganda all in the attempt to stop UDP. Is not sustainable.
Self defeating. Killer ACE and 36 others are in jail. That would be worthy of news but no.
Should it be the role of UDP to step in and condemn the incarcerations of these youths?
What is the role of news media in the new dispensation?
I am getting very disappointed with jollofnews stooping so low in giving Barrow so much platform on their News Website.
Going ahead marketing such Meetings are the sole intents of the occupiers of state house and the People calling themselves the “elders”.
A News worthy reporting would have being the incarceration Killer ACE and 34 other youths at Mile 2.
Sometimes I am just aghast with Gambian journalistic mindsets. Working against yourself on the long run!!
@Kinteh (Kemo): jollofnews is only borrowing a page from the United Democratic Party.
When Ousainou came out of jail and Yaya Jammeh fled, the opportunistic features of many individuals and political entities began to manifest themselves. The national agenda for a new beginning became the victim.
The party you support and it’s leader are on record for making irresponsible statements and engaging in unethical behavior.
UDP and Ousainou are the chief architects of the calamities that are befalling us day in day out.
Denial cannot help. My wish is for the UDP to be open to learning from its mistakes. They are not showing any signs of that.
Any word on the incarcerations of Killer ACE and 36 youths at mile 2?
Do you think that jollofnews has no moral responsibility to highlight the fate of these young people?
Yes I did. On a Facebook comment, I mentioned that the remanded youth are victims of a system of governance that is only good at reproducing poverty, ignorance and misery. I also said the biggest criminals (Adama, his wives and those surrounding them in various capacities) are occupying State House. And I am also engaged in my own little ways to get support for those young people.
I don’t know why Jollofnews has decided not to publish what’s in essence in the public interest. Has it got anything to do with an editorial political leaning? They should be in a better position to answer that question. Is it immoral not to? I doubt it.
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Any word on why Ousainou has become flippant regarding the 3/5 years issue?
Any word on why the UDP cum Ousainou, chose to derail an entire mechanism that saved them from imminent doom, for quick political gratification?
Mwalimu,
Candidly and honestly writing, I’m in mourning with the Jawara family, Jawara admirers/lovers and well-wishers for a man I never hated though, but opposed in many political decisions.
I really respected him although I never shared most of his political views and opinions.
So this week is not a moment for comments on issues here in Jollofnews for Babu in observance of the demise of our Elderly Statesman.
Nonetheless, I agree with @Mwalimu on the UDP and Ousainou Darboe.
Lots of respect to you Babu, for that gesture. Sir Dawda, despite his political shortcomings, is an icon that Gambia must cherish and immotalise for eternity. Our decision to lay his remains at the National Assembly Grounds is indeed a fitting move in that direction. His resting place must be a national monument, where generations unborn can learn about this great son of our land.
Article: “President Barrow Wants To Bequeath A Better Gambia”
I guess we are all in mourning for the life and work of Dawda Jawara. He epitomizes humility, service, tolerance and unity.
That’s what he is as a person.
As @Balu alluded to, his leadership mantra is not my cup of tea. Yet, that wouldn’t diminish my respect and honor for a man whom my father adored like no other person in his life.
Thank you Babu for that solemn gesture towards a venerable leader and his family.
Thank you all for the grace and respect you all showed here towards this national leader and his family/friends/well-wishers during this difficult time. We are all humans, and for that we make mistakes because we are not perfect. It is okay to have dissenting or differing opinions. I do believe that great ideas emerge when people respectfully debate their opinions. We all cannot support one opinion/person/party. If we do that then there will be no room for improvement. But it is heart-warming to see that most Gambians have put politics aside this week to mourn the loss of a great son of the land.