To mourn the death of our citizens in Faraba and to protest at police brutality and Government negligence and incompetence, I will dress up in my ‘Gambia Has Decided’ T-shirt from tomorrow.
The time has come to remind ourselves about the decision we took on 1st December 2016. On that day the Gambia decided against:
1. Police brutality
2. Arbitrary destruction of Gambian lives
3. Arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and enforced disappearances
4. Abuse of office, corruption and personalization of public resources and institutions
5. Blatant disregard of the rule of law
6. Threatening the lives and livelihoods of communities
7. Illegal exploitation of our land and natural resources for selfish gain
8. Tribalism, nepotism and religious bigotry
9. Politicization of public and security services
10. Dictatorship
Pull out your T-Shirt and bring back the spirit and power of ‘Gambia Has Decided’.
Our nation is severely challenged and lacking system change. Only citizens will bring about system change and institute and nurture democracy. Politicians and public officials and security officers will not, on their own positively transform the Gambia without the active participation and vigilance of citizens.
Remember: The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance!
On and from 1st December 2016 we decided for:
1. Democracy
2. Good Governance
3. Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
4. Transparent, Open and Just Government
5. Accountable and Effective Leadership
6. Efficient and Effective Public Institutions
7. Efficient and Quality Delivery of Affordable Public Goods and Services
8. Peace, Progress and Prosperity
Bring it on Gambia, bring it on!
Hoist up the flag, put on your T-shirts, carry your banners that shout out loud: NEVER AGAIN to the human, political and economic brutalization of a few over the many. Bring it on Kambi-ya, Kerr-Kambi bring it on, Sarreh Kambi bring in on. Let’s be peaceful but firm and bring it on!
This piece makes me very sad. It reminds me what is very wrong with our society, our leaders, our people. Our new reality, must not become a nightmare. I am disappointed but remain hopeful. The injustice continues, the suffering ongoing. It is a challenge to fix a broken hut invested with termites, but we only have one country, one hut. Fix it we must, we have nowhere to go. But home. How?.
Yes Madi bring back GAMBIA HAS DECIDED.
Let us manage our expectations. The bedrock, the foundation, the cornerstone of our country was broken by years of neglect. Accept this is the first step in nation building. We must all bring out our brooms(skills, experience and expertise) to sweep away the dirt and filth. We have to prepare the ground for a new hut. Our leaders will not and cannot do this for us. It is our collective responsibility. Clean but not destroy. Patience not Violence. Next we must build a new hut with a strong foundation by choosing our builders/leaders wisely.
God Bless The Gambia.