(JollofNews) -This position of the Government of The Republic of The Gambia is so correct, so to the point, so measured and temperate in its delivery that it needs to be publicised and commended.
It is also Minsiter DA Jawo’s first statement as the official spokesman of the government since his appointment – and it just goes to show his seasoned professionalism and undoubted maturity.
Statement from the Minister of Information:
“It has been brought to our attention that an inadvertent request was recently made for government vehicles to partake in the ongoing campaign for the National Assembly elections without any authority or clearance from the office of the President.
This is quite at variance with the policy and comportment of this government and therefore, as soon as it came to the notice of the competent authorities, the two vehicles in question were immediately withdrawn and returned to their respective units of assignment.
On behalf of the government, I wish to make it categorically clear to all concerned that there should be a clear distinction between State matters and partisan politics and henceforth, the two should be treated as separate entities. The use of government vehicles and other State resources for purely partisan politics is a thing of the past which shall no longer be condoned.”
Hon. Demba A Jawo, Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure.
Democracy in action!!. well done DA Jawo! you have so far not disappoint us.
Here’s the reason that appointing the right people with the proper perspective into positions of responsibility makes all the difference!!
The balance shown in the appointment of Regional Governors also tells a lot about the sense of direction!!
Kudos!
Leadership can’t satisfy all grievances or expectations at once. We can monitor and stay at a critical distance. I couldn’t help to smirk at Andrew hailing the appointment of good people into responsible positions. In this area, credit goes to the responsible minister. Forgetting that the minister of local and lands was berated at some point as “convict” and “incapable” and that technocrats should handle the job. I was and am the opinion that people who stood for us during crucial moments in the struggle for sanity are also people endowed with Good judgement. A technocrat might have the academic credentials but good judgement in public space is an added advantage.
Who made the request for the vehicles ?
The Minister has not declared.
Good question.
Mike Scales, thank you for asking the relevant question. Blanket commendations and salutations without sufficient information is dangerous. The Minister made a Sweeping and General Statement without background or Specifics. Why? Is it possible that the Culprit (s) are too close for Comfort, sic UDP Brethren? Come clean Mr. Minister. Then, we will see if you deserve our hooting and toothing. In the mean time, endeavor to be more Transparent No Matter Who the Offender (s) are. Remember the Oath. “I swear to Serve and Protect without Fear or Favour”….
The coalition should change the title to something more apt. The title governor gives an impression of grandiose and that is not something we want again in the Gambia.
Buba, I think in many parts of Africa they are called “Commissioners”. I agree “Governor” does have negative conotations.
I am glad most readers see the positive side of this story. “Good News” is not “sexy” and does not sale papers, but we need to praise positive acrtions of the government whenever we can.
Mwalimu kuu,Che dida halake,
Hujambo?
You cant hide anymore , what I mean we enjoy reading from you from far.
Shukran mzee , You are a bright star from east african. Its a joy.
Karibu nyumabani @ jukwaa. Nyama choma na kachumbari awaiting.
Che Dida Halake askari shuja.
Hasante Sana. Ningependa kuja “nyumbani” lakini sasa Nyunbani (with a capital “N”) iko Gambia! With respect, brav (ndugu) “Nyama ya choma” is absolutely no match for Gambia’s Benechin! And the girls! Wacha Mzee! Sure, Gambia does not have Masai Mara, Mt Kenya and “Hell’s Gate” – I remember the trek through “snake valley” – but the “bright star from East Africa” is now setting like the Sun in the West; old, tired, and what you read “with joy” are the glowing embers of the setting Sun just before it disappears beyond the horizon. Now I would love nothing more than to just watch the Sun-set on the beach and then stroll home to bed – but the “beach” must be on the Smiling Coast of Africa, which still remains peaceful. It can no longer be on the Swahili Coast of Africa because there it has become dangerous to even be inside your own home – let alone walk on the beautiful beaches of my youth (Nyali Beach and Shelly Beach — aaahhh memories!). But who are you? Now of the 1000 “children” who listened to my rumbling words when Griffing gave me his assembly in 1999 – and went on to become Kibaki’s Ministers, Doctors, etc? May Griffin rest in eternal peace – if he were alive he might have enticed me from The Gambia!
Kwaheri, Asante Sana, Shikamo, and we say in Gambia, Nengadef and Chi Jaama (Peace Be On You). It is a pleasure.
Jambo Sana …Hasante Sana. Ningependa kuja “nyumbani” lakini sasa Nyunbani (with a capital “N”) iko Gambia! With respect, brav (ndugu) “Nyama ya choma” is absolutely no match for Gambia’s Benechin! And the girls! Wacha Mzee! Sure, Gambia does not have Masai Mara, Mt Kenya and “Hell’s Gate” – I remember the trek through “snake valley” – but the “bright star from East Africa” is now setting like the Sun in the West; old, tired, and what you read “with joy” are the glowing embers of the setting Sun just before it disappears beyond the horizon. Now I would love nothing more than to just watch the Sun-set on the beach and then stroll home to bed – but the “beach” must be on the Smiling Coast of Africa, which still remains peaceful. It can no longer be on the Swahili Coast of Africa because there it has become dangerous to even be inside your own home – let alone walk on the beautiful beaches of my youth (Nyali Beach and Shelly Beach — aaahhh memories!). But who are you? One of the 1000 “children” who listened to my rumbling words when Griffin gave me his assembly in 1999 – and went on to become Kibaki’s Ministers, Doctors, etc? May Griffin rest in eternal peace – if he were alive he might have enticed me from The Gambia!
Kwaheri, Asante Sana, Shikamo, and we say in Gambia, Nengadef and Chi Jaama (Peace Be On You). It is a pleasure.
Which “partizan” political Party made the request////
Moreover///If the vehicles in question have been returned when was the request made ? Before they were taken or after ?
Very good observation. One could only imagine what would have happened if those who made the request (looks like that request was an after thought) were 100% in control of cabinet.
Thank God we have non-partisan professionals like Hon. Jawo and Hon. Tambedou…
We have a long way to go and this battle for real change will not be easy.
To take a vehicle/s without the owners consent is a serious criminal offence. Even more so if they are government property.
Were the vehicles insured by the takers or the Political Party in question ?
What were they used for ? {was this lawful}
Was there any damage to public property ?
Will prosecutions follow?
What part of Law or government policy covers the Ministers claim ?
On whose authority were the vehicles released to the “takers”
What is an “inadvertent request”
I think a Reporter reading this statement would think 10 out of 10 in the public interest {worth further investigation and clarity from The Information Minister}
Aaah! Bwana Dida!
Kweli, Una Juwaa Kiswahili!
SA Ni Muna, Shikamo!
With the Gambian savvy, Gambia Ni Nyumbani Kweli
Kachumbari?
Dida, Dida!!
Mike, the abuse of public property is not new in the Gambia. It was a norm in Jawara’s regime for civil servants to use official vehicles like their private property with all expenses paid for by the tax payer. When Jammeh came to power he took most of the vehicles from civil servants promising an end to abuse of public property but the abuse increased instead by ten fold. During Jawara’s time government vehicles were commandeered during “meet the farmers tour” and for election campaign. During Jammeh’s time, anyone wearing an APRC T-Shirt can ask for a government vehicle because civil servants were scared to say no lest they be labelled as anti-government, the consequences of which can be dire. During PPP regime, government departments know when their vehicles will be commandeered so they put plans in place to minimize the effect on services. The APRC is continually engaged in something, working on the president’s farm, meet the people tour, putampaff, wrestling at kanillai, the list goes on. This makes it difficult for departments to effectively mitigate for the effects of having their vehicles commandeered. Gambians have been conditioned to believe that it is the government of the day that owns everything in the country so therefore government officials can do whatever they like with the Nation’s assets. There has never been a distinction between state and the governing Party. Mike although I agree with all that you’ve stated above, I think the government should just start with a clean slate on this issue. The public should be educated on the issue and I believe the recent government announcement is a step in the right direction. Prosecution should still be on the table if people ignore this warning.
Rumours and Appearance of Transparent Governance Does Not Make A Democratic Dispensation:
Buba Sanyang, Max’s and Other “UDP Militants” Please. Wrong is Wrong. We cannot justify present and future illegal and Potentially Criminal behavior of Selective Arrrests, Detentions, Ethnic Group Based Firings from jobs, Ethnic Group Based Jurisprudence and Law Enforcement, by the Current Regime of Adama Barrow, Mai Fatty and Ousainou Darbo by engaging in Subterfuge and Blame Game. At some point, Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty and even Adama Barrow their Fronted Pseudo President, would have to take responsibility and own up to the fact that they are in charge of the Affairs of State in the Current Political Dispensation in the Gambia. By the way, Buba Sanyang, I will not be so giddy and silent or embrace the new Tilt in Foreign Policy toward the French by way of Cynically and Opportunistically putting all of Ones Eggs in One Basket. Mai Fatty and Ousainou Darbo Regime have pushed Barrow into the Francophone Sphere of Politics and Diplomacy, as a Signinal and Payment to Macky Sall and Senegal for the Short term goal of getting rid of Jammeh. A goal that most UDP Supporters and others would see as worth anything and everything. The problem is, they may have gotten themselves into a Lion’s Den they may Not Survive just I like Jawara and his regime over reached and paid dearly in 1994. The three Musketeers have just Sealed their Faith. By jumping in the Senegalese Den, they have climbed on the A proverbial Lion’s Back and may end a up in the Lion’s Jaws trying to get off. This is similar to the Faith Jawara allowed himself to be placed following the 1981 Coup. He was then Obligated to keep digging the Ditch or Hole he put himself and the Gambia in even when he was aware that he was digging for a Collective Burial. Thank Allah/God, Jawara was able to get himself and the Gambia out of the Grave, before the Burial Detail (Senegal’s Joof) Could executed the final Rites. Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty are dealing with a more determined and ruthless “Partner” in Macky Sall of Senegal. They are playing with fire thinking that his goal is Neutralizing the Cassamance Opposition, Period. No. Buba. The ultimate goal is the Golden goose, the Gambia. The Communique and or Protocols recently Signed in Paris by Adama Barrow for the Gambia Government with the French Government, giving the French the responsibility of Training the Gambian Army, is Nothing Else, but another Diplomatic way of Cynically telling the Gambians that the Gambian Army would be Trained, Controlled and Directed by Senegal and Macky Sall. The Communique also stated that the Gambia would henceforth, Require French to be taught in Gambian Schools. “Required”, is the Operative word. Buba, Maxs and other UDP SUPPORTERS, does this mean, henceforth, all Primary Schools, High Schools and the University would be Forced to teach French? Forget Kisuwahili you were nursing of transplanting into the Gambia. Actually, that may not be bad. It may go a long ways to hopefully reduce if not eliminate the Persistent and Insidious Ethnic Group Marginalization. I think Not. It has not done so in Kenya. Back to the Gambia. Talking about Adama Barrow and his Communique of Requiring French to be taught in Gambia. Would parents be required to come up with the added cost of School fees and or Text books for French language? Or is Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty Regime going to pay for it. Where would they get the Funds. If they manage to get the Funds, is this the best way to spend the funds at a time Mai Fatty, Ousainou Darbo and UDP Officials Scattered all over the Gambian government Ministeries are Claiming that the Gambia Government is Bankrupt? Who going to pay for the added costs for French language Teachers and or Professors? Why is it a Requirement? Did Ms. Jallow Tambajang come up with this inorder to be relevant, given her Unconstitutional try Vice President? Or, is this the “Behind the Closed Doors” or the “Hand Shake” Diplomacy in Mali during the Political impasse that Adama Barrow had with the French Prime Minister before going to his and his Cliques’ real destination, Senegal. “for an Undeserved Vacation” while the Gambia was on a Powder keg about to blow up during the Political impasse? Short term gain for long pain is not a Prescription for Progress, nor good Diplomacy. Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty with their Front man, Adama Barrow are Obligating and positioning the Gambia in an Undesirable and Dangerous position that would come to hunt them and maybe their Downfall. The Marriage of Convenience Orchestrated by UDP, Mai Fatty and Ousainou Darbo with Macky Sall cannot be Sustained. It is a Marriage built on the Hatred of One man and an Ethnic Group that they both see as a Threat. The Jola in the Gambia for UDP, Mai Fatty and Ousainou Darbo and the Jola in Cassamance for the Senegalese and Macky Sall. What happens when this Perceived enemy is Nolonger the Common threat to One Party or both? The Fireworks that such a Diplomatic Divorce would generate or create is not something I want to imagine. It is going to be ugly at the least, and at worst not good for UDP leadership and Potentially the Gambia. The Hatred of One man and an Ethnic Group Should Not in anyway or Form Blind Politicians who Profess to Represent all, to embark on a Reckless and Suicide Mission of Intra and International Diplomacy that Compromises the Gambian Souvereignity and Independence, Not to mention its Existence as we know it. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One individual, Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, One Destiny.
Andrew and Dida, unless you are willing to teach me Swahili I will request that you leave this forum LOL!!. Am jealous of two lol!! This is a West African forum so as much as it would pain me to loose your wonderful contributions, I would suggest that Dida you move to the East Africa forum and take Andrew with you lol!! Am sure your in-law Bax won’t mind.
Buba, last time I met my KOTO, now Gambia’s Chief Justice after whom I have named TWO boys, we waxed lyrical in Swahili. Andrew, Buba, Hassan Babucarr Jallow …. WELCOME TO THE GAMBIA SWAHILI ASSOCIATION (GSA)!!! Nyiyi wote watu wa nyumbani. Africa imekwa moja:-
Oh Africa Nchi Yetu,
Tunataka Kuungana,
Tuketini pamoja,
Kama Ndugu sisi wote! Come on Andrew, continue the poem!!
Kwaheri, Chi Jaama – or as is said both on the Swahili Coast and on the Smiling Coast: Asalam, Baraka!
Oh yes, I will. Why don’t he start teaching us instead. Africans need to start speaking a common language,alongside all our other languages, and Swahili is not a bad choice. I can’t speak it but it sounds very rich and flexible.
Dida, am going to enroll on an intensive Swahili course because the GSA might turn the Gambia into the western territory of the Masai Mara LOL!! Andrew if you complete this poem consider yourself ban from the Gambia lol!! Asalam, Barakat!
Oh no Buba. I am staying put on the smiling coast!
If there’s anything like a Kambia DUURINGO (Manding), consider me one OK (smile)!
There are very few nooks and crannies in The Gambia that I don’t know and Buba, I don’t work for a spy agency.
I’ll also tell Kemo(Kinteh) that I am fluent in French, Manding, Wollof, Poularr, Krio(Aku), KiSwahili and some Serankhulu! A blend of sorts. So NNA YAA as it were doesn’t matter to me at all!
This is an indication that Gambians can embrace and share diversity. It’s all a blessing. So you still have me Buba.
No intention of letting Dida steal the show though! Hahaha!
Buba, if I may use the words norm and commandeer that you stated, I’d say that the misuse of government vehicles by public officials was indeed the norm and commandeering of vehicles for questionable trips has been and still is the order of the day.
Managing Directors of public corporations, Permanent Secretaries and Directors have each at least two dedicated vehicles that no one else could touch. In fact, it is not uncommon for a government vehicle to be assigned to a Marabout in Fass, Saloum or Chilla Jurunku for extended periods at a time and on government fuel coupons. In Public Corporations, the MD’s and Deputy MD’s typically have a separate vehicle to run personal and family errands. This is a practice that started in the PPP era and must stop. The allocation of fuel coupons that can be cashed out at fuel stations by drivers and their bosses must be reviewed and replaced with a less porous mechanism. I also believe that the government has too many vehicles that represent a drain on the national coffers. A comprehensive audit must be conducted to account for all vehicles on the books and I will emphasize on the books as with the APRC regime, no one knows what belongs to central government and what belongs to Bakary Ukat! Where there is a need to reduce the inventory, auction off vehicles including the Yaya Jammeh collection to the highest bidders or offer the same vehicles to public officials and the general public under an automobile loan scheme.
The misuse of government resources by public officials must be addressed with urgency by the new government as it has been going on for too long. Doing away with government fuel storage facilities (fuel dumps) in the PPP era was a good idea and I believe that bold steps must be taken now to reduce the government’s tab on the procurement of vehicles, fuel and related services.
Does this mean I will no longer get my Government car and driver ?
Awe Shucks; I will stay at home.
Lol !!!
Hey Mike, don’t you drive what looks like a DeLorean without the wings?
Nope !
Its a Maserati Gran Turisimo, with a Ferrari 5 Litre engine,440 watt Bose Juke Box and 19 ” alloys with sky hook suspension and sports paddles. sexy and very fast. sounds like a Tornado Jet as it moves through the gears. Top speed 245 Kilometers per hour…Bit too low to the ground for the Banjul Serre Kunda highway.
mmmn now let me see…Yellow taxi or maybe a Green taxi ////
No I think its got to be the Geli Geli/////smile
The Coalition as Coagulated and Collapsed in collision!!
It only takes a patient frog to a second to catch as flying grasshopper. When the so called coalition won the 2016 December Election, every one particularly some ethnic people felt they brought about the change! All over shouting and mass public media bust and so soon political intellectual drunk in tribal sentiments sprang! The so coalition leadership and antigens were being hijacked by a selfish partisan and tribal trois. Soon a grammatical theoretical quasi legal political phrased was coined: A “tactical Coalition” framed to be prophetic inspiration by our so called legal an political gurus soon became a spongiform virus spreading in the Gambia sporadically catalysed by Sarjo Barrow on the Mandinka Kibaroo news.
Many of the wise old and some of the younger generation like us ( who were narrated the stories of the Gambia )Knew this was a TERRY KAFO of the 1980’s on the renaissance> I wrote a piece in March 2019 on the Coalition where i noted that the Coalition is likely to collapse( It was being built on woods swamped with termites and earthworms!)
Less than 1 months after my predication, the Coalition has indeed coagulated , collapse in collision. Today who can define me the coalition based on the principle of liberating the Gambian people and ensuring justices for all. We are only witnessing witch hunt on certain tribes and a certain tribe playing the tactical self perpetuation its trending plans to weaken the very coalition that brought us a breeze from the ocean. Heros like Halifa who had been Jailed during very tough times in our history was forcefully released or less the world Gambian Donor funding would have ceased, ( a condition put by the donors), He was the only Loin roaring at Jammeh during the post elections crisis, Over all FM Stations, he would instill home and vigour on a totally devastated masses. Jammeh will be a rebell by January 19th and Must Go!( Sallah). Some of the Coalition members were hiding under their billows, others groping in the walls of the prison begging God to safe their lives. Amid the smoking and soon to sparkfire whcih would have spell doom for the gambia, Halifa was still heard in FM Stations pricking needles on Jammeh and Allast, Barrow was whisked by our Good Neigbour and Friend( ECOWAS, UN and AU) and sworn in.
Today, Sallah is being painted, the black-sheep of the coalition and one who is bent to undermine Mr. Barrow! Far from the Truth, this a deliberate smear tactics by those who coined the “Tactical Coalition” to tactically enter the Presidency using sand dunes as cover. What a shallow cover! The National assemble nomination wind as washed way the the cover and there they are? Darboe Mai and puppet Amat Bah? Where is the tactical Coalition philosophy?
Thank you very much the IEC, for Debunking yet another ploy to blind fold the electorate in the Name of a Coalition party Candidate : That is no such things as Coalition Candidates, UDP, NRP, GMC, PPP,PDOIS, or Independent Coalition). The records are straigth. Gambians should be clear now about the intention of some of the member of the Coalition. I maintain my opinion that Darboe, Mai and Amat should be removed from the Cabinet by the President. Else the post elections tactical coalition undercover will never stop bring us road blocks to see a successful transition. If fact will there be a transition or have we already transited ?
President Barrow most likely will not be convinced by your opinion. You are nevertheless entitled to it. The coalition exist with all founding parties taking a sit in it. Pdois preferred to stay out and instead be a watchdog in the NA. No coalition candidate is contesting against Sidia or Halifa in their respective constituencies. On the other hand Darboe’s party and Fatty’s party are contesting against one another in some constituencies. These are facts. So the conspiracy that an ethnic is hijacking the coalition remains a conspiracy theory. Halifa indeed played a crucial role as coalition spokesman and I think the other leaders acknowledged that. However partisan politics continue after elections and new realities present themselves and the role of persons in pre-election times, is not a licence to also dictate the course of action in the post-election situations. Halifa had made a proposal and the others also put forward a counter proposal and a democratic vote was held and Halifa’s proposal was abandoned. This is not betrayal. This is a normal democratic process.
Finally, to set the records straight, words or ultimatum such as “after 19th January you are rebel ” alone wouldn’t have moved Jammeh. So there were also other coalition leaders who actively supported and convinced ecowas that a radical action must be on the table. Ultimately they got it right. So the coalition leaders all played their roles in different degrees of successes and the sum total of these efforts brought about the rooting out of tyranny.
I am with Kinteh here:
1. Kinteh: “Halifa had made a proposal and the others also put forward a counter proposal and a democratic vote was held and Halifa’s proposal was abandoned.This is not betrayal.” Halifa accepted that majority vote in good faith. It is followers who talk “betrayal”.
2. Kinteh: “Halifa’s words or ultimatums such as ‘after 19th January you are a rebel’ ALONE wouldn’t have removed Jammeh”. Absolutely correct – it was the Senegalese soldiers entering The Gambia on the 19th that made Jammeh RUN. But Halifa’s words were needed and will remain historically important for history – like Winston Churchill’s words when UK faced Hitler … the importance of uplifting words can never be under-estimated.
I wrote on all that at the time, so need to add nothing. But I also wrote at the time about Halifa’s wish to be Speaker – and why Barrow’s Govt would try to block that. My analysis remains and is in the archives at Jollofnews. Hailfa’s and PDOIS (and indeed UDP’s) moves are all about Party Politics and Power … and we can’t paint one party “RIGHTEOUS” and the other “WRONG”: it is all part of the game of politics. As long as we all agree that DEMOCRACY is the rule, let us all play!
No coalition candidate is contesting against Sidia or Halifa in their respective constituencies,(kemo)
Is this part of the proposed tactical coalition strategy which did not work or was it a lack of confidence?
Kemo(On the other hand Darboe’s party and Fatty’s party are contesting against one another in some constituencies. These are facts.) if it was the fact, why vote for out a majority vote that did not even last a day ? Why the tactical idea ? No home work done ?
(Dormu Rewwum Gambia) You
must agree even if the fact are there to see. The main point all of you are diving is: the Coalition has failed and it is mainly due to the UDP and GMC puppet NRP so called tactical coalition that never work even in the preliminaries of election.
Why the vote on an illogical idea that is already known would fail. given the unpredicatble persons involved? Halifa Never voted , he remained neutral. Such is the move of a wise and consistent person. He is vindicated, the Tactical coalition presumption and conspiracy has woefully failed. This is a great disappointment to any genuine well meaning Gambia in whose heart is off any tribal or partisan sentiments.
We know politics based on objectivity. This was not the lest, it was a selfish agenda , because, the agenda was : Becos i don;t want my party to die? was it for the people or your self?
So there were also other coalition leaders who actively supported and convinced ecowas that a radical action must be on the table.(kemo) . Who specifically are we talking about in the Coalition that we can prove had actively convinced the ECOAWS? We are not blind and deaf? Tell us who ?
But I also wrote at the time about Halifa’s wish to be Speaker – and why Barrow’s Govt would try to block that: Dormu Rewwum Gambia
So is also the case that Darboe want’s to be president prematurely and why the Same Barrow’s s Govt should never entertain it the little.
Buba: “Darboe want’s to be president prematurely”.
Surely Buba, if Darboe wants “to be president prematurely”, he would agree that Barrow should serve only 3 years. Darboe is on record as saying “Barrow must serve 5 years”.
I am going to make a bet with you Buba: Darboe does NOT want to be president at all – and in five years time, Darboe and the UDP will nominate BARROW for a Second Term. Wanna bet?
If wishes were horses then the beggars might ride. Barrow must serve 5 years is not in the interest of Borrow but in some people who feel 3 years is too short to build an empire for the UDP.So this is nothing but self empowerment by Darboe and co who see Mr. President as a boat he can Paddle with bare hands to the none fishing zone. That Daboe and UDp will nominate Mr. President Barrow for a second term is clear indication of two entities ( Darboe and UDP) and hence the conflicting ideologies. The toying with the term limit of the presidency is all a game of tactics to create an avenue to via. Darboe know that if he vies for presidency for 10 times he will never win and hence it would not be strange to try to ride on an-other’s horseback to reach to the grass. But the UDP is a yellow grass and any yellowing of pasture shows deficiency . Darobe should Thank God for the Coalition else the UDP would never have tested such green grass not when Darboe was free and part of the negotiation.
Give the coalition another name, it has failed woefully and Darboe, Mai and Amat are the enablers
Buba Camara, thank you for your in-depth analysis. I have to admit, I have nothing to add to your points. Well said and analysed. Keep up the good work of enlighting the “Tone deaf”, See no evil, and Hear no evil of UDP Supporters.
My in law…
-The claim that Halifa wants to be Speaker is no longer sustainable. Please drop it. Halifa is seeking the office of NAM, through elections; not nomination. If he gets elected, he cannot be Speaker, unless the law is charged, for ONLY nominated members can become Speaker.
-There is no evidence before us that all the positions PDOIS has taken so far, are purely for party gains. If anyone disagrees, please provide the evidence. I’m very much looking forward to seeing it.
What the evidence shows is that PDOIS is advocating for a non partisan transition period, so that necessary reforms which will level the political field for all, can be undertaken collectively before party politics commences. How could that be in the interest PDOIS alone ?
– I believe every member of that coalition contributed immensely towards the change we achieved, but I don’t think there is anyone who has put in more than Halifa Sallah. That is why attempts to diminish his (and PDOIS) contribution and portray them as obstacles is disgraceful, to say the least.
– It is simply disingenuous for anyone to continue portraying the actions of some alliance partners as demonstrative of democracy, after what we now know. Those who formed the tactical alliance camp, which approach was eventually agreed by the rest, made us believe that partners will not contest against each other, to maximise coalition changes at the polls. So when we see the opposite, we should say the truth: somebody has not been honest with us. You can say this is democracy, but what cannot be denied, is that there is deception within this “democracy.”
Whether Halifa is being challenged in S/K Central or not is irrelevant. Coalition partners, supposedly contesting under a “Tactical alliance” strategy, are now going to contest against each other. This will divide the opposition vote, weaken our candidates and endanger the reform project. We cannot, and shouldn’t, gloss over this and pretend as if it’s normal. Because it’s not.
Thank you very much Bax. I have always said that truth has no boundary. The Prophet Muhammed SAW . has taught us same: Say the truth even if it affects you.some of the coalition members are not genuine and have failed the Gambian electorates by trying to play with our minds: The only sad think BAX is there is not defined course for any objective reforms which is desperately needed after 22years of Jammeh regime. But the current cabinet that is suppose the chart the way is bipolar and in different frequencies. just too sad.