(JollofNews) – President Adama Barrow of the Gambia has used his address at the state opening of the country’s National Assembly to renew his pledge to jealously guard and preserve the freedom and dignity of his people.
Mr Barrow who succeeded former long-term ruler, Yahya Jameh in January whose regime is accused of committing gross right violations, said the Gambia will never again return to those dark days of impunity, obvious disregard for constitutional order or be globally isolated.
Addressing members of the National Assembly in Banjul on Monday, the president said: “I stand before you with great humility today at this historic opening of our National Assembly in the era of the ‘New Gambia.’
Together, we have ushered the New Gambia into a world of hope – a world we shall jealously guard to preserve the freedom and dignity of our people. Never again shall this nation return to those dark days of impunity, obvious disregard for constitutional order or be globally isolated. This is an achievement that we should not take lightly. I thank Allah for this blessing and also seek his continued guidance and strength to serve you well in the coming years.
The spirit of unity that brought us last December’s historic election outcome continues to drive the nation forward, which is evident in the business of our new Cabinet. Indeed, we see this spirit of unity every day across the nation as we strive together to build the New Gambia that we want and deserve.
The most important achievement so far is the peaceful transition of power to our new democracy. This short period has seen the inauguration of a President, the appointment of a new Cabinet and the election of a new National Assembly.
My fellow Gambians
You have elected the government that you want, and we have taken your expressions of goodwill and your desire for peace and prosperity seriously. We have thus begun the task of steadily reforming the government machinery so it can do the work of nation building and help strengthen our new found democracy that we have wanted for so long.
I want to offer my thanks to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, and all our international partners for their invaluable support in this historic transition. They too have worked with us in the spirit of unity and cooperation to serve the New Gambia.
They have all moved swiftly to help stabilise this nation through support with security and human and financial resources. I know we can count on their continued support particularly to overcome the dire financial situation that we inherited. But ultimately, we Gambians must forge our way along the path of democracy and prosperity. I am proud to say that we are already well on our way in these first few months of our administration.
We have got a lot to do in 2017 and beyond and as I have always said, this is going to be a government of action. Our immediate priority is to fix the continuous energy problem as well as the broken economy, unify the nation, improve health and agricultural sub-sectors, end the country’s isolation and introduce robust institutional, electoral and constitutional reforms in line with our new democratic principles that will respond to the realities of our time. This has to be done in tandem with reforms in the Civil Service and security sector as well as State Owned Enterprises.
A Peaceful Transition
Our most important achievement so far is the peaceful transition of power to this new democracy. As mentioned earlier, we are indebted to ECOWAS, the AU, the UN, the EU, the World Bank, the IMF and other international partners for their support. They have all moved quickly to help stabilise our country with the help of security, human and financial resources.
As the saying goes charity begins at home, so we must acknowledge that we Gambians are to be commended for initiating the change that brought us the New Gambia. We shall continue to build our country together.
Justice and Judiciary
While we have restored some of the key democratic institutions, the pursuit of justice remains a high priority for my government. Indeed, we still have a lot to do despite the progress made so far. Over 500 prisoners have been pardoned and we have delivered on our promise to decongest prisons by releasing political and other deserving reformed prisoners.
A Criminal Case and Detention Review Panel has also been established to enquire into all criminal proceedings against current and former public officers and the panel has uncovered cases linked to political activity, and persons remanded and awaiting trial. We have recently and carefully concluded the work on the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry to look into the financial and business-related activities of the former President and his associates. The members of the Commission chaired by Surahata Semega Janneh have been announced and the Commission will start work shortly.
Additionally, our Judiciary has been ‘Gambianised’ with the appointment of a Gambian Chief Justice and six Superior Court justices.
We also held a successful National Stakeholders’ Conference on Justice and Human Rights in May and the forum provided a unique opportunity for inclusive dialogue and consultations on key justice sector reforms, including plans for the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
My government has received and continues to benefit from genuine and solid support provided by the UN in the area of transitional justice and the setting up of this Commission.
Security and Defence
In the area of security and defence, we are grateful for the support of the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia. The ECOMIG forces were especially instrumental in helping to secure our democratic transition. The government is working on reforming the security sector which is closely linked to the delivery of justice and the restoration of our free and fair democracy.
Gone are the days of armed security personnel representing the face of government. The Gambian Armed Forces are now confined to their military barracks. Members of the former State Guard Battalion have been redeployed to other units, and the armed forces are now disengaged from civilian matters. It is also important to note that arms and ammunitions have been stored in safe locations.
We must, however, applaud our gallant Armed Forces, who have been receptive to the normalisation of their role in the state, and have conducted themselves with maximum professionalism. They continue to play a critical role in keeping our nation safe and secure, and deserve our unconditional support and respect as they carry out their professional duties.
To ensure that our military remain effective and professional, we plan to set up an infantry centre and school, as well as a military academy to train our officers and other personnel in all aspects of military science.
The former National Intelligence Agency, now the State Intelligence Service, has been restructured to focus on its core activity of intelligence gathering and analysis to ensure the safety and security of us all.
Information and Communications
In the area of information and communications, we have taken concrete steps to review oppressive media laws, to ensure freedom of the press and freedom of expression. These are founding pillars of any strong democracy, and my government has moved quickly to reinstate three private radio shows that were illegally shut down. All these efforts will enhance the quality, the scope and the openness of information, news and the media throughout our country. It is reassuring to now hear and see debates on divergent views expressed freely on radio, on television and in our newspapers.
In one of my recent cabinet meetings we agreed, as an immediate priority, on the need to put in place a communications strategy that will facilitate regular communication and engagements with the public. New communications measures have been introduced to include regular press briefings by the media team at the Office of the President, by the Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure, and bi-annual news conferences by myself.
Energy
Turning to the energy sector, let me start by restating the urgency that I attach to resolving the power supply issues across the nation. Electricity is power – the power to support education and learning, the power to run life-saving health facilities, and the power for businesses to create jobs and grow the economy.
I came into office to find significant challenges in the energy sector, as is evident in frequent power outages. Electric power is one of the most basic services that people need for a decent quality of life, and the lack of it greatly affects the net national productivity and lives of the people.
To meet these challenges and tackle our acute power shortage, my government has made it a priority from day one, to work with international partners, investors and developers to attract investments in the energy sector.
Some of the negotiations are at a very advanced stage. We recently signed an agreement for a new 60-megawatt power plant, which will more than double the current generation capacity in the country. It will deliver adequate and stable electric power supply in the whole of the Greater Banjul Area. I am also happy to report that the proposal to acquire electricity from our sister Republic of Senegal is well advanced.
It is worthy to note that this cross-border connection is a short-term measure to boost the energy supply, especially in the rural areas.
Madam Speaker,
Regarding the petroleum sub-sector over the past 22 years, Gambians have either been left in the dark or seriously misinformed about petroleum prospects.
My government will be transparent and honest about the state of petroleum, and should there be positive results, we are committed to governing the sector with total transparency and accountability.
Exploration and research are at an advanced stage, and while we are hopeful, we must wait for the process of exploration to take its course.
Trade and Foreign Affairs
By exercising your democratic right last December, you helped us usher in a new Gambia that is more open to the world and a better neighbour within our region. We now have a country that will benefit from greater openness through international trade and tourism.
Since my inauguration, it is clear that the world appreciates The Gambia and wants to engage with us. We have already seen an increase in the volume of cargo at the Port of Banjul as well as a rise in vehicular traffic using the ferry services. Furthermore, there has been a clear boost in the flock of new investors exploring opportunities in our country.
We have also been honoured with many visits by foreign dignitaries from the EU, the UN, the UK and from our own ECOWAS neighbours. I have equally been humbled by invitations from fellow world leaders.
The Gambia has begun the process of rejoining the Commonwealth, and reaffirmed our membership to the International Criminal Court. We have welcomed the decision by ECOWAS to extend ECOMIG’s tenure, all of which demonstrates our commitment to embrace regional and global institutions in the name of open and collaborative international relations.
Relations with our neighbour Senegal have been transformed positively. We now meet as strategic partners who recognise the mutual benefit of closer cooperation. Within the first 100 days of our period in office, our countries signed several key agreements on defence and security, tourism, fisheries and consular assistance.
As a small economy, The Gambia has much to gain from more efficient trade across our borders with Senegal and beyond. Going forward, my Cabinet and I will work to make the most of these opportunities, to boost our economy and create jobs for Gambians.
Already, the National Assembly ratified a crucial World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade facilitation agreement. This is an agreement that will make The Gambia a more attractive export destination for our trading partners. I am proud to announce that my Minister of Trade has since signed a letter of agreement with China for duty free trade between our two nations.
This will remove the need for costly trans-shipment of Gambian exports to China through a third country. It will also make our goods more competitive, and boost our export potential to the world’s largest market.
A legal metrology bill will soon be brought to the floor of the National Assembly. The bill will, among other things, address consumer protection relevant to legal metrology functions.
International Financial Affairs and Public finances
Fellow Gambians, my government took office to discover that the Treasury was virtually empty and domestic and foreign debts at an all-time high. The foreign reserve at the Central Bank was less than one month import cover, and the economic and governance situation had become so bad that our international development partners had deserted us.
To address this crisis, my government in January 2017 developed the Accelerated National Response Plan which seeks technical and financial support from our development partners to help mitigate the economic and fiscal crisis in the short-term.
We are grateful to our international partners, who have responded swiftly and continue to respond to this call for support.
The European Union has made a significant financial commitment. It is disbursing frozen funds and committing new funds to support the development agenda of the New Gambia. The World Bank has already provided vital emergency budget support and we are in the final stages of concluding a Rapid Credit Facility Agreement with the IMF who have agreed to a staff monitored programme to stabilise the economy and public finances. This will include the reform of public enterprises such as the National Water and Electricity Corporation, (NAWEC) and telecommunications entities GAMTEL and GAMCEL.
Youth
In order to take full advantage of the impending financial and economic opportunities, we need to prepare our youth today for a vibrant labour force tomorrow. After all, the bedrock of our country’s very existence is our youth. This is why the Ministry of Youth and Sports is tasked to create various capacity and employment initiatives to enable our young people to form the much-needed human capital that will drive the country’s development agenda.
In our first 100 days, a new Youth Empowerment Project initiative supported by the EU was launched at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment. The objective of this project is to improve the skills of potential youth workers and prepare them, especially returning young migrants for the labour market.
Through the President’s International Award Scheme, 60 youths were recently enrolled to undergo skills training in a range of technical and vocational areas like auto-mechanics, carpentry and secretarial work.
It is encouraging to note that the National Youth Council coordinates the civic education programme. This is aimed at mobilising our youth to participate in politics, and to assume their rightful role in the country’s development process. The Council has helped craft a youth agenda for government’s consideration, and is working closely with the International Organisation for Migration to support returnees and potential migrants to acquire livelihood skills in horticulture and poultry.
The Council is also helping young people in Busumbala, Baddibu Salikenni, and Kuntaur to acquire skills in poultry farming. Similarly, it is helping young people in Wuli to acquire skills in horticulture.
These capacity building initiatives also sensitise young people to the dangers of illegal migration to Europe.
Agriculture
In agriculture, we expect to make critical development gains from improving the skills of our youth and encouraging them to participate in agriculture. At the moment, agricultural productivity is low, and this limits the benefits to the nation in terms of jobs, livelihoods and government revenue.
In addition to youth training, the Ministry of Agriculture has begun a programme of support to farmers and farming businesses to improve seed input, modernise cropping and ploughing techniques, and enhance planning in the face of climate change and other hazards to agriculture. Already, vegetable seeds have been distributed to 11,200 farmers as well as 22,500 kilogrammes of rice seeds to intensify rice production. High quality fertilizer and groundnut seeds have also been made available to farmers at subsidised prices.
Fisheries
As well as maximising the economic potential of our agricultural sub-sector, we have begun to develop fisheries as a source of food security, jobs and economic growth.
During the first 100 days of my Presidency, the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters and the Ministry of Justice reviewed the country’s 2008 fisheries regulations to make it more relevant to our current realities.
Considering that our industrial fisheries sector has been dormant for over twenty years, we expect that the amendment of these regulations will contribute to the sustainable conservation and management of the fisheries sector. It will also enhance food security for all Gambians and contribute to poverty reduction through employment creation.
Tourism
Our historic political transition took place during the peak of the tourist season. Tourism contributes significantly to GDP and it is a critical source of employment and government revenue, as tourists are naturally drawn to our warm and friendly shores.
We have begun to re-engage our key markets but we still have a lot to do to sell our New Gambia brand to the world. We intend to realise the full potential of tourism as a source of employment, livelihoods and prosperity for our nation.
The implementation of new strategies to enhance culture, tradition and the arts as channels for new tourist inflows is already underway. The major craft markets at Bungalow Beach Hotel and Fajara Hotel have already been upgraded.
Community-based tourism endeavours, such as the one in Ndemban in the West Coast Region, have been developed with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
Environment and climate change
In support of environmental protection and tourism in the country, my government has put in place the right policies and programmes to protect our environment and combat the effects of climate change.
In our first 100 days, we reversed an executive order of the previous government to destroy the forest park in Bijilo with the construction of a hotel on the park grounds. We have normalised the environmental impact assessment process with clear guidelines in accordance with due process, with full transparency, to give investors more confidence in the system.
My government will continue to monitor to ensure that existing investors respect the agreed guidelines to protect our environment.
My government has also mobilised additional resources to support environmental protection. We have re-engaged with the Global Environment Facility and we will access US$6 million that had previously been withheld.
The Forestry Bill 2017, which seeks to put in place the necessary legal framework for the management of our forest resources, will come to this Assembly shortly for enactment. We shall enforce it rigorously to protect and preserve our already degraded and vulnerable forest cover. This is necessary, not only to preserve our precious natural resources, but also to mitigate against the adverse effects of climate change.
Water
Within the first 100 days of my government, we have made important progress in expanding access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation in rural areas.
On the 9th of April, with a grant from the Saudi Fund for Development, my government signed a contract for the construction of 25 drilled wells, equipped with solar pumps. The contract also provides for 25 elevated water tanks, and associated water distribution systems. This US$6 million project will improve water supply in rural areas by providing safe drinking water with easy to operate systems.
In March 2017, the Department of Water Resources completed the construction of 950 ventilated improved pit latrines out of a planned 1,000 nationwide. The Ministry is currently installing tanks, laying water pipes and building pre-cast tap stands in various communities across the country.
Many of these facilities are either complete or nearing completion. At the end of this project, over 65,000 people in rural areas will have access to safe drinking water and 44,000 will have access to improved toilet facilities.
Health
Improvements to water quality are linked to health outcomes across the country. Alongside providing people with safe drinking water and sanitation, my government, through the Ministry of Health, is scaling up its efforts to improve our health delivery systems, especially for women and children. As a first step, we have obtained additional assets to support primary health care provision in the country. This includes 800 pedal bicycles and 29 motorbikes for Village Health Workers and Community Health Nurses across the country’s seven health regions.
I am pleased to report that the World Bank has approved US$7 million in additional funding for the Maternal and Child Health as well as the Nutrition Result Project. My government has also submitted a proposal to the EU to enhance food security. We would welcome their support to help us treat acute malnutrition and prevent all forms of under-nutrition.
With more than 95 percent coverage, we are also getting support from the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) to help us consolidate our strong track record on child immunisations. This project, estimated at US$4.6 million will help strengthen and enhance our immunisation systems.
Education
For basic and secondary education, I am proud to say we have reached agreement with development partners for over US$50 million worth of investment to expand and improve education for our next generation.
With the help of the Kuwaiti Fund, we are upgrading 39 upper basic and senior secondary schools. This will see the building of additional classrooms, the rehabilitation of existing ones, as well as information technology and solar power solutions. We will install new furniture and educational facilities in our schools, including science laboratories, and there will be a new teaching curriculum. With support from the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, we are building on existing programmes to enhance access to quality basic education, including early childhood education.
Administration and Civil Service
While initiating our policy and reform agenda, we have also been reforming ourselves within government. We inherited a highly politicised regional administrative system. It was presided over by governors who owed their allegiance to the APRC.
Offices of regional governors were being run more as political bureaus rather than serving the grassroots within their localities. As such, scarce national resources were being used for political propaganda activities.
To improve governance and stop wasting resources, my government appointed five new governors, whose terms of reference clearly exclude them from engaging in partisan politics. We have encouraged them to follow proper civil service conduct, which embodies neutrality and impartiality in performing their functions.
In normalising the civil service, we have established a panel to review the wrongful dismissal of civil servants and other government officials between September 1997 and December 2016. Since its creation, the panel has cleared over 100 employees, allowing them to be reinstated. At the same time, the civil service has expanded rapidly by over 40 percent since 2007. Consequently, almost half of the government budget is spent on civil service wages and benefits.
This not only limits government’s ability to provide the necessary budget to improve the socio-economic status of its citizens, but also makes it difficult to improve the salary of civil servants. This is one of the key challenges in attracting and retaining skilled professionals.
In response, my government has tasked the Personnel Management Office to conduct a comprehensive nationwide staff audit for the entire civil service. This began on the 27th of March 2017. For the first time, this audit included the security forces – the Army, Police, Immigration, Prisons, Fire and Rescue Service, and the State Intelligence Service.
The objectives of the audit exercise include the identification and elimination of ghost workers, the recovery of wrongful salaries and the updating of personnel records.
Let me proudly acknowledge the support that my government received from our UN partners in the area of administrative reform. During this transition period, the UN System has provided support to strengthen government capacity and they have been assisting us in the formulation of our National Development Plan, as well as security sector reform.
It is also important to report that as part of the reform, my own office which was directly coordinating and supervising a huge number of public enterprises and other state agencies under the former government has been de-congested and those institutions streamlined with their line ministries.
In Conclusion
While we have taken this opportunity to reflect on how far we have progress as a nation in just a few short months, let us not be mistaken, we have a huge long-term task ahead.
This includes but not limited to:
- Continuing to rebuild and nurture our young democracy for inclusive socio-economic development;
- Providing economic opportunities for all; and
- Reforming the institutions of government to ensure improved service delivery for our people.
These tasks are not without challenges, but I am confident that none of them are impossible to overcome. I am happy and privileged to have this great opportunity to lead our great nation to prosperity. But we must learn from the experience of others.
We must be disciplined, follow the plan and stay committed to that plan. So in pursuing our vision for the New Gambia, my government will continue to focus our time and resources on a clear agenda. We shall create a foundation on which future progress will be built.
I commit to you to pursue this agenda with greater transparency and accountability – more than ever before. I will continue to update you on progress throughout the year. This is a new government and a new era, and as your President, I am here to serve the Gambian people.
And now, by the powers vested in me as President, it is my pleasure and privilege to declare this historic session of our National Assembly in the new Gambia formally open.”
Great speech we should be now responsible and move forward.
It’s a bit early for a re-elect me speech. But it does tick all the relevant boxes. What it is basically saying is that Gambia was Broke 6 months ago, and thankyou to all for the loans grants and import of international community services with life support including a free ship load of rice from China. It also gives a government insight into wholesale corruption. The President does give a warning that putting the Gambia on the right path comes with some difficult challenges. However this is another road map and plan worthy of support, coming shortly after the commendable road map from The Minister of Justice. This government appears to listen and respond to what YOU ALL>> are suggesting as being transparently required.
Good speech. However, it is not very encouraging that all the major achievements listed are load/grants etc. When are we going to start taking and celebrating concrete steps towards self-reliance?
However the silo mentality is evident. What is important is who deals with what falls through the cracks between, say, Agriculture, and foreign affairs, or between, Agriculture, and Trade, and so on. For example, if a farmer decides to sell his produce across the border to earn CFA instead of Dalasis, who deals with that? Is this a law and order issue, or an incentive, and therefore a trade issue, a finance issue, or what?
The analysis according to headings, or ministries: Agriculture, Fisheries, Law and Justice, Youth etc is, in my opinion, too problem focus to be useful as a blue print for going forward. Rather what we need is a solution focused strategy that brings seamlessly brings together/synthesises what all these Ministries have to contribute to say, a medium, or long term national plan to really turn things around for the better. Everyone already knows what the problems are. What is needed is an action plan enumerating practical, tangible solutions including the commitment, prioritising of, and allocations of resources, and a timetable for measuring achievements along the way. Concentrating on solutions including demonstrated readiness to travel the hard road to their achievement in a stipulated timeframes will, in my opinion better energise people into making positive contributions the course, than confusing them with a list of mere intent.
For example, the Budget allocation for 2017 shows that President’s Office has an allocation that is more than 8 times (6) that for Youth support through the Ministry of Youth (.74), and the Department of Agriculture – the bread basket- is not the Second highest after Education, and so on. Hence the confusion of intent with reality. Real, tangible, hard noised policies geared towards the many and not the few are needed to dig us out of a hole. The sacrifice must come from the top, and the policies must be solution focus, and not problem based. The latter approach easily breed selfishness and corruption, for invariably, self-created problems usually have no solutions, but real problems always have solutions. And that is the whole point of the solution focused approach. It is always easy to allocate responsibility for achieving solutions, much easier to allocate resources that can be measured, and outcomes can be reliably measured with reasonable degree of accuracy, and if solution stalls, or is no longer needed, resources can be divested and reallocated to solve other issues reasonably quickly. In contrast like a dog chasing its tail, the problem approach can be intractably stubborn with regards to resourcing as it feeds upon its own “self-creation”. Its is neither easy to allocate the right amount of resources to solve, say a Youth unemployment problem (as the 2017 budget testifies), or to Law and order problem, or Health problem, nor to disinvest resources, even after the problem is solved. Partly because the approach to problems is invariably silo based, with each silo trying its best to create, and recreate the same problem in its own image, so as to attract as much resources for its, usually, little efforts as possible – this explains to a great extent why poor countries remain poor – each silo sucks a disproportionate amount of, usually, public resources to its output.
And with 18 ministries, countless embassies, two resident armies, a national assembly, a police force-cum- service, each engaged in a zero-sum game, as they competing for the meagre farm, fisheries, and tourism resources, it would probably have been more helpful for everyone including the international community who must cough up much of the funding, if the nation’s presidential had attempted to counter the wealth destroying silos culture currently engulfing the nation by offering real, tangible and measurable medium, to long term solutions that cut-across all these very many, administrative (and therefore largely non-value adding) institutions he has created – many of them out of fear, and/or cronyism). In short give them a real job to do. Jammeh gave them jobs to do by sending them off to work on his farm. That obviously is wrong by this President’s standards. But there is nothing wrong in sending people off to go find innovative solutions to for real national issues. And soon everyone will join in and be like Cameroon, say, tooted as Africa’s next emerging economy. How did they do it? The obvious answer is through refocusing on finding solutions to real issues, and not on, mostly, self-created problems, as they have no solutions – after all no dog has ever been able to catch its tail no matter how fast it whirled.
Very well said and a well informed viewpoint. I think an earlier commentary on the budget by Hon Burama Jammeh, has hinted at the same problem from a different perspective, by pointing out that nothing has changed in method, style, approach and presentation of budgets from the Jawara days.
I agree with the suggestion of a realistic national blue print for achieving short, medium and long term goals and sensible budgetary allocation of funds to reflect our economic circumstances.
There is just too much resources going into areas where target achievements are either continuously illusive, difficult to measure in real terms or have little or hardly any visible impact on the lives of the population, despite the vast amount of resources consumed over the years.
A serious rethink of our approach to national development: vis-a-vis, resource mobilisation, allocation and management, as well as, problem identification, planning and resolutions for the short, medium and long terms is required. As the saying goes, “to do the same things over and over and expect a different result is foolhardy. “
I agree with Bax; The government and the people would benefit greatly from all sections of government posting a periodic report on its progress. The method of collecting this accurate data is also vital that it should be reliable. We need to see inflation falling and growth rising. We also need to know how basic food prices can be held or reduced and the method government aim to employ to achieve this promise.
Mr. President the least of what is expected of him as President. If for Nothing Else, Thank you.
But
My Thoughts inform me that there are “Cloudy Days” of Turmoil Again Over the Beloveth Gambia and Gambians. Clouds of Agree To Disagree Conflict of interest running back and forth to Senegal. Cloudy Days of Multi Million Dalasi Houses. Cloudy Days of Regionalism and Ethnicity Transcending Citizenship, and Musical Chair of the Game of Thrones of The Overseer of the Vice Presidency. Cloudy Days of the Law Consuming Fellow Gambians and Institutions that are Ineffect Person Non Gratad. Cloudy Days of, “this land is not your land”. Cloudy Days of, let the Chinese Company do as it wish. Cloudy Days of Contracting our Souvereignity to big Uncle to the North and South, and don’t forget Cloudy Days of a Bridge Too Dear to the Gambian Economy and Citizens. Juxtapose that with Cloudy Days of “Raining Fish” for the Rivers and Gambian Territorial Waters are Farmed Out to the big Brothers from the North and South and those from Far and Near East. Cloudy Days, but no rain because the gods are Angry at our Collective Failure to Deliver the Democratic Dividend to the Gambian Citizens. Agriculture, Education, Healthcare, the Airport and National Radio and TV are Crying out for Water to Quench the Thirst for Dollars, Euros and Pound Sterlings, yet we buy Non Essentials. Cell phones, Computers, Tvs and even children’s toys are not Spared a drop of water to flush out the Dust. May be the Cologne and Perfume Survived the Grabbing and Commandeering Force of “Gambia Has Cloudy Days” but no rain to Quench the Collective Thirst for the Gambian Citizens. Cloudy Days of Gentrification of the Ministry of the Interior. Location, Location, Location. If you do not locate, the Cloudy Days will Consume you. Or will Mr. Interior Minister Consume you? I think Not. He is too Cool with the 24 Hours of Air Conditioning for few while the 95% go without light. My Thoughts tell me that big brother from the North and South will come to the rescue. May it be written that the rescue did not aggrivate the Problem. Let there be light for all on Demand. Let there be Water for all on Demand. Let there be Free Press for All Opinions and not just for a Select “Kibaro”, Mandinka for News. No joke, you get the message? Let there be Due Process and Governance without Selective Arrrests, Detentions and Purgings of Perceived Political Opponents and Institutions. Let there be Wisdom and Courage in our “Overseer” of the Presidency to Move to the State House as is Expected, if not Mandated. Let the President Rain in the “Makers of Cloudy Days” not Forcasted during the Campaign and Coalition Alliance. Rain in those who Have Betrayed the MOU and Coalition Alliance as was Agreed Upon by all Parties who Signed off on it. When it is written and rains the Rain of My land is your land, from Kartong to Koina, The rain of No Regionalism and Ethnicity transcending Citizenship, We Shall on that Rainy, Day Dance and Rejoice in the Gambia of One People, One Destiny.
“Gone are the days of armed security personnel representing the face of government. The Gambian Armed Forces are now confined to their military barracks … the armed forces are now disengaged from civilian matters”
This is a great achievement of the Barrow Presidency considering that the greatest challenge face by African leaders is to keep the armed forces quite and confined to barrack, where they rightly belong. They can play cards all day, and drink attaya into the night, without anyone feeling cowed, or anxious by their presence. Great achievement deserving of an AAA confidence rating.
Let hope the President, and indeed the whole community, will go further and use the headspace provided by this departure of the big boys for barracks to banish civilian, social, economic, financial, and administrative sleaze, and other rogue elements to oblivion, and with that, create further headspace to move the Gambia ever closer -albeit slowly – to peace and prosperity, and for his efforts notch a AAAA for the man, not from the provinces this time, but sleepy Old Yundum Village – Yarambaba!
Brilliant poetry Sidi;
Problem was it was so poetic I couldn’t understand a word. But that’s a me thing.
Gambians are brilliant writers and thinkers.