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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 17:07:06
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Voting Darboe- A prerequisite to Our Economic and Democratic Advancement
Debt burden, financial mismanagement, corruption, Poor human rights record and bad governance are some of the greatest impediment to development in the Gambia today. If we are looking for credible solutions to these problems, then we should look no more for the UDP/NRP/GPDP has provided us with solutions that are second to none. Produced below are some of the things the UDP/NRP/GPDP government will do to make a difference for the benefit of us all;
Tackling our internal debt and job creation
In 2005 alone, we paid D723million as interest payment on our internal debt most of which were accrued through treasury bills. If this amount stands only for interest, you can imagine what the principal is like. Despite such a huge borrowing, virtually nothing has been done to improve the productive sectors of our economy and no employment venues have been created for the growing class of unemployed youths, and yet the APRC is still accruing more loans in the form of treasury bills and external borrowings from the big powers. Our public Corporations are all crumbling to pieces. The question we should be asking is where is the money gone?
The UDP/NRP/GPDP if elected, will force the central bank to cut down on treasury bills so that the lending our commercial banks are doing in this area could be utilized in supporting and creating new business enterprises and encouraging youth entrepreneurship in all sectors of the economy including tourism. This wills not only lead to an eventual drastic reduction on our debt burden for greater percentage of our internal borrowings is done through treasury bills but more importantly, it will be an employment opportunity magnet for our unemployed youths.
Tackling our External debt
The World Bank, the IMF and the G8 have recognized in their meeting in Scotland last year that they need to write-off third world debt in order to allow the global economy to grow. They stated good governance, respect for rule of law and human rights and a robust public finance management as pre-requisites for any countries qualification in this scheme. Countries like South Africa, Senegal, Mali, Ghana etc have all been tested and proven to have satisfied the requirements and today most of them have greater part of their debt written-off. Gambia did not meet any of the requirements above thus, the reason why we are not benefiting from the Scheme.
The UDP/NRP/GPDP if elected will endeavour to donor confidence by ensuring that all these requirements are fully met and sustained so that the Gambia could eventually access this privilege. The Donors have nothing against us. They know how important it is to allow the global economy to progress. In 2005 alone, we paid D226million as interest on foreign debts. If we have even 20% of our foreign debt written-off, that will leave us with lots of millions. That money could go a long way in financing our Persistent budget deficits
Restoring Donor confidence
In the Geneva round in 2002, £118 million was pledged as grant to support Gambia’s poverty reduction programmes. The pledge was tied up to governance and proper fiscal discipline in the public service, a condition which the APRC failed to meet. This angered the donors who then decided to withhold the funds.
UDP/NRP/GPDP does not consider the conditioned attached to this fund as draconian and therefore, if elected, will seek to satisfy them in the shortest possible time in order to enable us to attract it for immediate investment in the area of job creation and other poverty reduction priorities.
African Growth and Opportunities Act
The US government through its African Growth and Opportunities Act has created a special fund [grant] to support the economic growth of African countries. Again conditions are attached which are not draconian. They include respect for human rights, rule of law, good governance and proper financial discipline in the public service. The Gambia initially qualified but after careful review that decision was revoked. Just recently, Ghana benefited $50million [fifty million Us Dollars] under this scheme. What we need to ask ourselves again is what can petty Gambia do with $50Million grant? The answer is, a lot.
The UDP/NRP/GPDP if elected will pursue an ethical governance policy that will have respect for human rights, press freedom and rule of law at its core. In addition to that, sound foreign policy that does not glorify pariah states at the expense of our democratic credentials will be adopted to showcase the Gambia as a vibrant democracy in the international arena. This will enable us to win back or even surpass our lost respect and credibility in the world community. All these are in tandem with the requirements enshrined in the African growth and Opportunities Act and therefore will earn us back our eligibility status to access this fund.
Widening the state Revenue Base
UDP/NRP/GPDP if elected, will also seek to widen our revenue base in order to enhance government’s capability to fund its own projects. Instead of raising taxes on basic commodities thereby putting the consumer’s purse under strain, they will, where possible, look out for untapped areas for tax purpose. There are still a lot of areas where government can attract tax and those areas are still untapped.
Crusade against Corruption and Fiscal Discipline in our Public Service
The Gambia has lost a lot through corruption and mismanagement in the twelve year reign of Yaya Jammeh. Notwithstanding this, perpetrators of this heinous crime have been glorified by the APRC. They are normally awarded top jobs in government rather than being prosecuted. A typical example can be found in Yankuba Touray corruption saga. He was indicted by a quasi-judiciary authority with an equivalent authority to that of the Court of Appeal, for siphoning D2 Million. Instead of the state asking for restitution of the said money and its proceeds if not a prosecution, Touray was made Minister. It was the same in the case of Justice M A Paul, a high court judge, who was also indicted by a parliamentary committee for financial impropriety. He is still serving the judiciary at the bench as a High Court judge. All these make a mockery of the need to stamp out graft in the public service. It is also an insult to the hardworking tax payers who risk going to jail if they fail to pay tax.
At the central bank alone D700 Million went missing in the recent past. One close confidant of the president who happened to be a manager in the central bank pleaded guilty in a plea bargain, for siphoning D225million and was sentenced to just 9 months imprisonment. Another close confidant and former majority leader in parliament deliberately evaded tax to the tune of D90million just because he believes he is above everything and therefore untouchable. These travesties are not congenial to the ethical governance policy the UDP/NRP/GPDP seeks to pursue if elected and therefore will not be entertained.
UDP/NRP/GPDP recognizes the gruesome damage corruption has done to the Gambian economy and therefore will endeavour to tackle it in the most efficient manner if elected. By stopping or even scaling down Corruption in the Gambia will save us a lot of the much need millions for investment in the productive sectors of our economy. That is what Lawyer Ousainu Darboe and his team seeks to do. They have the political will and the human resource behind them but they can only do it if you vote Darboe.
The Constitution provides that public bodies must be subject to an annual audit exercise. This requirement was only honoured once in the Twelve year reign of President Jammeh and even on that occasion, State House which has been annually allocated funds in the budget was not covered. The outcome was quite chilling. Top government officials were indicted. Example, the Former mayor of kMC Rtd. Col. Abdoulie Conteh was asked to explain the disappearance of D1.5Million from the council’s coffers in 1995. His explanation was that he bought gravel to construct a road in Serrekunda [Kolongba Road] but the gravel was washed away by rain. Remember this was in 1995, a time when the Dalasis was reasonably strong. D1.5 Million worth of gravel got to be an enormous quantity. You need a tsunami to wash that off entirely. To cut a long story, the report was consigned to a dustbin and the Auditor-general not only lost her job but was dragged to court on frivolous charges which were later dropped when the political fury over the scandal died down.
The UDP/NRP/GPDP if elected will ensure that our anti-graft laws are not only enforced but made robust to enhance government’s capabilities to detect, prosecute perpetrators and to recover stolen monies and their proceeds. The UDP/NRP/GPDP is very much aware of the fact that once in government, their electibility in subsequent elections would depend on how effective they are in transforming Gambia from the status quo to a more prosperous one. If they fail to deliver, then the people will look for other alternatives. That is why it is important we aspire for change through the political process and not otherwise.
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Safeguarding the independence and credibility of the JudiciaryOur Judiciary is at the moment in a deplorable state. It is diabolically weak and inefficient. The state players have a nasty utter contempt for the court system and the rule of law. This has been manifested in numerous State flouting of court orders and the unceremonious sacking of judicial officers who fail to succumb to executive bullying.
In the recent past a lot of executive interferences have been vitiated on the judiciary. We have seen the unceremonious and unconstitutional dismissals of Justice Hassan Jallow, former president of the Supreme Court and Justice Robin cooker of the High Court, and the resignation in style of Justice Mam Yassin Sey. Lack of security of tenure of office has done a lot of damage to the credibility of our judges. If you deliver a judgment against the government as a sitting judge, you will either have your contract not renewed on expiry or be dismissed forthwith. This is one the odds that has being shying away foreign investment into the country.
UDP/NRP/GPDP if elected, will reverse this trend. They will strengthen our judiciary and safeguard its independence and credibility in order to restore public confidence. Public confidence must be restored in our Judiciary if we are to attract the much needed foreign investment. There are lots of potentials in the Gambia but investors are just too scared to put in their millions because there is no security for such investments.
Security of tenure for judges will be guaranteed. Judges will be appointed and award permanent contracts by an independent Judicial Service Commission which will comprise of representatives of the bar, the bench and other civil society representatives. They will also make sure that judges are dismissed only after the right constitutional procedures are followed.
The capacity of Judiciary both human and material will also be strengthened to ensure that our courts not only deliver quality judgments but also facilitates speedy trials as practicably possible, so as to prevent the backlog of cases from building to an unprecedented level as they are now.
All these are for the benefit of us Gambians, and what it takes is vote Darboe! Vote Darboe! Vote Darboe!
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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BambaLaye
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 19:35:55
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NADD: The Urgency of Now
By: Foday Samateh
September 15, 2006
Based on the phenomenal development and rapid transformations taking place around the world, particularly in major countries in the Third World ? namely Asia and Latin America ? the time is fast approaching when the people of Africa can no longer say we remain in conditions of acute underdevelopment because we were colonized. The critics of Africa will be quick to point out India, China, Malaysia, Brazil, and Chile as examples to say that the historical underdevelopment of Africa at the hands of European imperialism is no longer a valid explanation why the continent is the way it is.
As much as I hate to admit it, such a critical observation will not be further from the truth. If half of Africa's problem comes from its marginalization from the center of action in the international community, the other half lies in the inability or unwillingness of our own governments to turn things around. A Western critic said not long ago that if Africa was cut off from the rest of the planet the impact would be very negligible. I vehemently disagree with the sentiment of this callous mockery, as it obviously expresses the same anti-African contempt and prejudice as the "the Heart of Darkness" and "the Dark Continent" remarks. Nonetheless, I cannot but take note of the critic's dismissive cynicism, in that his raw insensitivity rests on the fact that Africa carries the UN unenviable distinction of being the only continent that has not developed in the past 25 years.
I once wrote in a series of articles on Gambian politics in The Point Newspaper that both APRC and UDP had only one policy: Yahya Jammeh. That while the APRC was losing sleep over entrenching Yahya Jammeh in power, their UDP nemesis was dreaming only to replace him. Beyond that, the two political parties had no policy agendas. They both had no policy on education, health, economy, national security, foreign relations, job creation, agriculture, institutional development and the overall sustainable national development vital to a modern nation-state. Six years on, I sadly but firmly stand by that pessimistic assessment because it's as true today as it was then in the broader realm of a continent that seems to be sleeping while the rest of the world leaps forward into a new age of global change and development.
To keep APRC as the government in The Gambia or replace it with UDP in this presidential election is to vote for more of the same: at best few infrastructural projects here, few there, built on high-interest loans; and a bedridden economy gasping for foreign aids and grants. That is not how to develop a country. Nor has lip-service made any country a "superpower" or "silicon valley," as Yahya Jammeh daydreams. There is nothing beyond to expect from these two parties but to hope and wait painfully for another long-coming opportunity for change in government.
There is a better way. A real way. The NADD way. The ever-increasing globalization teaches us that economic growth, national development, and constitutional democracy are the premium demands of every nation-state in the international community. These three are not luxuries of the industrialized world alone any longer. Nor are they the preserve of any culture, ideology, or geographical location. They are the benchmarks for all nations now and forever. And they are the mantra of NADD, if The Gambia is looking to join nations enjoying respectable status in the global community.
My dear patriots, every day NADD is not in office is a day lost forever in developing our nation. This presidential election is a great crucible, a time for immense decision, a golden opportunity for the taking. To seize it is to act on the courage of our convictions that alone will build true to our ideals a real democracy depending on and sustaining a vibrant and enterprising nation. To squander it is to question our national purpose, to betray our collective interest, and to defer our challenges indefinitely to some future generation.
As the rest of the world bounds on to great and exciting new times, Africa must wake up to the hard fact that there is no option to doing the right thing: that we must act with the urgency of now. And that is what NADD and NADD alone offers to The Gambia.
[This is the Ninth in a series of Ten Articles] |
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Aku_pickin
Christmas Island
162 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 20:35:19
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It is sad that the alliance was broken because of narrow minded, selfish reasons. This breakup along with the APRC's voter fraud,has guaranteed victory for the dictator.
My hope is that one of the opposition parties comes into power because anybody at this point, is better than what we currently have.
I don't want to stick with the devil I know because no other devil can be worse. |
Justice must be served as impunity brings more repression and corruption! |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 20:56:02
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| AKU Pickin, I salute you for your comments. Don't be stuck with the devil. The idea that Nadd Will defeat Ousainu Darboe and then the APRC is a fantasy which no one should entertain. For them, it is not about winning. It is about propagating fantasised political theories. The only way for you to achieve what you said is by asking your people back home to Vote for a credible force that is capable of doing the Job and bringing meaningful development to their door steps and that means vote Darboe. |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 21:03:26
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| Never underestimate the determination of a quite man-per Iain Ducan Smith MP [Former Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition-UK] |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 21:11:02
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Bantaba Poll Question:
Who is your presidential candidate?
Results:
Yaya Jammeh (APRC) [5%] 10 votes
Halifa Sallah (NADD) [35%] 67 votes
Ousainou Darboe (UDP/NRP) [56%] 108 votes
Henry Gomez (GDP) [1%] 1 votes
None [4%] 7 votes
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11840 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 21:34:25
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Jammeh still wins according to this one.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 22:17:47
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Momodou, that is thanks to you and your insular Halifa Sallah who chose to embrace idealism at the expense of realism.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 01:04:27
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| SS Nyamato Daffeh get your facts right. 5+35+56+1+4=101. Your statistic is either forged, flawed or you need to go back to nursery school to learn basic arithmethics. I would recomend Nyakoi Nursery School. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11840 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 01:32:01
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Hi Shaka, I did a check on the poll MOD and found that there is a bug. Daffeh copied the poll results and thats where the error is from.  |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 02:19:36
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The opinion polls was a bargaining chip to reconcile and unify all the alliances and thats why I considered and ACTUALLY VOTED FOR DARBOE FOR STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO HAPPEN. Darboe was also offered to LEAD ANY ALLIANCE JUST FOR FIVE YEARS according to Sedia Jatta, Landing, Halifa for PROGRESS AND HEADWAY FOR THE WAY FORWARD and because of GREED, DOUBLE STANDARDS AND SELFISH reasons was indecisive at that crucial time to sacrifice and assume LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ONE UNIFIED ALLIANCE FOR REGIME CHANGE CONSIDERED A NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT (NADD)In The Service of The Nation.
I voted PDOIS SAM SARR once before UDP existed in the days of PPP. However I don't know why since UDP was born I always voted for DARBOE and he was even lucky again to have it in from me in Bantaba opinion polls. I don't act arbitarily but attempts to have rational thoughts for my decisions. Even I voted that Jammeh and APRC is favoured to win under certain circumstances considered at that time when the alliances of the opposition were in total disarray and power struggle started. That power struggle and rivalry between the opposition still persist or became worst. Therefore what do you reckon? The Bantaba Admin. can audit my votes and is authorised disclose the facts in my statements of whom and what did I voted for in the opinion polls.
For your information all those statistics were the only APPENDIX to the blue print we compiled together for the 31st May 2006 ultimatum that I declared for the way forward. UDP/NRP and NADD were given copies for the strategic alliance to progress with our resolutions and recommendations. These were my contacts:
Dalton1 thepoint13@yahoo.com
jallow, oj ojallow@yahoo.com
NADD naddgambia@yahoo.com
Sanneh, Amadou aa.coaccountants@yahoo.com
silla, Foraaya sillas@hotmail.com
Spoke with Darboe through his confidential mobile phone and he gave me instructions to channel the document and later he acknowledge receipt.
Biraago forwarded contacts of Hamat Bah who was on a tour to US but Amadou Sanneh made effort to send them a copy.
What else is left with us? Thanks Bantaba Admin. and members. You are all WINNERS!
HAPPY NEW ERA AND BE PREPARED TO WORK HARDER TO SUPPORT OUR GOVERNMENT AND DIVORCE FROM THE TRAITORS AND TRIBALISM!
PEACE! |
Edited by - kobo on 17 Sep 2006 02:48:55 |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 07:46:09
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| Sorry Momodou, i never thought they error was from your part. It just happened that Daffeh is a fraud who needs to be exposed for his half-baked philosophy. I will continue to scruntinise him for every word he utters. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 11:28:55
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Momodou, you have got the yob redhanded. Well done. He is silly to think that he can silenced me. My facts are uncontestable as you
have just found out during your check. That is why I always cause alarm whenever I write.
My aim has always being to stop the distortion and I am happy with my progress.
Oh! I forgot to remind you. Vote Darboe! Vote Darboe! Vote Darboe! Vote Darboe! Vote Darboe
Thanks for your thoughts |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11840 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 16:28:21
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Thanks Shaka for your observation because I never saw this bug. However, there is always going to be +/- 1 percent. The only way to get a 100% is by displaying 1 or 2 decimal places after the percentage. Because even if you round up or down, you will still gain or lose a point.
I don't mind +/- 1 point as it is not really necessary. As long as the votes show which is leading.
Anyway, there is now 1 decimal place added to the percentage.
Daffeh, I think you did a trick to get all the Ceesays, Jawos and Darboes in Cyberspace to come here and vote for your candidate so that you can show these polls The other day I saw Halifa leading and then all of a sudden there is now more votes for the Darbo kundanko. Do you have any explaination of how that happened? |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 16:53:37
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Momodou, you can say whatever you want but let me tell you one thing. My knowledge in computers is very limited. When I start university, I had trouble decorating my courseworks according to the university's standards because My IT skills were poor. I had to be given special attention by the IT department and that was just about basics not advance skills. So for you to make such an outlandish charge is proposterous. But you know that is NADD.You can never do without the blame game.
am a pure arts student who is not very technically inclined and I am not ashame to say it anywhere. Anyway, you can say what you like.
Thanks
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11840 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2006 : 19:28:02
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| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
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