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Momodou
Denmark
11821 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Aug 2006 : 23:12:26
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Foroyaa Editorial
CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLITICS
Section 1 of the Constitution states that “the Sovereignty of the Gambia resides in the people.” “All organs of government must derive their authority from the people.” “Powers of government are to be exercised to promote their welfare and prosperity.” Civil servants are part of the sovereign Gambian people. They wear two caps. When it comes to politics they are sovereign persons who have a right to belong to political parties and to vote. However as civil servants they are required by law to serve the tax payers who may belong to different political parties. This is why they are required by the Constitution to perform their duties without fear or favour, affection or ill will. This is why section 200 states that: “A public officer shall not in the course of his or her official functions and without lawful excuse do or cause to be done any action which is prejudicial to the rights of any other person.”
However, section 104 of the Elections Decree states that: “The number of political parties shall not be limited by law and every citizen of The Gambia shall have the right freely to choose whether or not he or she will become a member of a political party and which party he will support.”
A sovereign Gambian is therefore free to choose whether or not to belong to a political party. Nobody can force a civil servant to belong to the APRC or buy their campaign materials. Any civil servant who allows himself or herself to be pressurized to buy APRC campaign materials has moved from being a sovereign person into a political hostage.
No dignified Gambian will allow himself or herself to be a hostage of his or her fellow human being. Gambia will never have a liberated people unless those who call themselves educated and enlightened take charge of their destiny. Any educated person who is afraid to have independent political opinion from those who manage state affairs is still living in mental slavery. Such a person is yet to be a sovereign person as required by the Gambian Constitution. The time has come for each Gambian to emancipate his/her mind. This is the only way each Gambian can make an informed choice.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue N0.70/2006, 28-29 August, 2006
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