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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Feb 2007 : 23:51:54
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http://www.gainako.com/My_Homepage_Files/Page1.html
REFLECTION ON GAMBIAN?S
..................42ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
......................................By Demba Baldeh, Editor & Political analyst..............Posted February 20th, 2007
In our today?s editorial, Editor cum Political Commentator, Demba Baldeh examines 42 years
of independence. Among the fundamental requirements of being independent, the Editor argued,
is to be able to stand on your own feet. In it he also challenged all Gambians and friends of the
Gambia to contribute positively to national development.
As Gambia celebrates its 42nd Independence Anniversary, we at Gainako join all Gambians and friends of the Gambia in
celebrating yet another historic day. This day?s historical significance cannot be over looked because it marks the greatest
milestone our nation had ever achieved in its history.
The attainment of Independence meant that Gambia and its people were finally free from foreign domination and autocracy.
It meant our nation could finally stand to be counted as a sovereign nation among all independent nations of the world. It
further meant our people finally had the chance to determine their own manner of government and decide on the
destiny of our beloved nation.
The struggle for our Independence was by no means an easy one. Our people like many others in Africa and around the
world had to fight day in and day out to chase away the brutal colonial powers that were just there to represent their own
interest. Prominent citizens like Sir Farimang Sighateh, Sir Dawda Jawara, P.S Njie and many others who stood head to
toe ready to step up to the plate and lead, must be given the commendation for standing up to the enemy who thought our
people were not able to rule themselves. These noble citizens will permanently remain in the history books for making such
a day a reality.
Attainment of our independence was not only the end of a long unjustified colonial rule, but also the beginning of self rule in
the midst of our nation fighting to identify its true identity. The challenge faced by the future leaders of the nation is a
daunting task of having to decide either to build a viable and strong independent nation that represents the basic
fundamental needs of its people, or continue on a path of self-centered constitutional administration that will be imposed on
our people.
The classification and administration of the small nation as a British territory with meager resources and without a strong
economic and educational foundation was another great challenge to the future leadership of the nation. They had to
continue to rely on the British government which showed little or no interest in creating a strong economic and politically
independent nation which could meet the unique demand of its people. It was evident that the British were only interested
in a Gambia as a territory and not as an independent sovereign nation side by side with a giant nation - Senegal which
surrounds it on almost all sides. The question was about whether Gambia?s strategic location and lack of resources would
be able to stand alone as an independent sovereign nation.
Obviously, this question of Gambia being able to stand as a politically Independent sovereign nation has long been
answered. However, Forty Two (42) years of political Independence still leaves many wondering whether Gambia?s
strategic location has a lot to do with its lack of economic progress. Many have long concluded that its lack of economic
progress has nothing to do with its location, availability or lacking thereof of National Resources but, due to leadership
failure like many other African countries. Several things evidently pointed out that due to lack of good governments and
leadership failure, the country continues to struggle to meet basic fundamental needs of its population.
Forty two years (42) later, Gambia with a population of a little over 1.6 million people cannot produce enough food
supplies for its citizenry due to lack of modern agricultural farming mechanisms. Despite abundant availabilities of fresh
water, fish, life stock and arable land, the country still imports almost all of its food supplies and remains to be one of the
poorest nations in the world.
Forty two years of Independence, over sixty percent (60%) of the population still cannot read and write. Over 70% of the
people lives below poverty level as defined by the United Nations. Almost over half of the population does not have access
to clean drinking water, decent healthcare facilities and educational institutions. These figures get worst year after year as
governing conditions deteriorates gradually.
Gambia?s attainment of Independence was supposed to be not only the opportunity for our people to choice their own
destiny, but also implement sound decisions that would free the nation from economic dependence on foreign aid. Today
the country?s inflation and national debt is beyond any measure of sound economic sustainability. The National debt has
reached over three (3) trillion Dalasis to be conservative.
Forty two (42) years of constitutional sovereign Independent nation, the constitutional rights of our citizens are still yet to be
fully protected under the amended 1970 constitution. The freedom of the press and its protection is still far from being
guaranteed under a constitutional government. No nation can attain its political and economic freedom
without concurrent recognition and partnership with a free independent
press.
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