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Momodou
Denmark
11721 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Dec 2019 : 21:46:44
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New Year Message By PDOIS Secretary General
Foroyaa: December 31, 2019
https://foroyaa.gm/new-year-message-by-pdois-secretary-general/
31st December 2019
Conscience and law Are the Guards and Fences of Democracy and Justice
As we enter 2020 one could rightly call it the year of divergent views on how to build a new Gambia. A new constitution is to be crafted but opinions are divided on the content.
Promises of a three-year term for a transitional president was made in 2016 but a five-year term is embraced by the president. Claims and counter claims are being made as to what should happen on 20th January 2020 after the president serves a three year term. All Gambians are entitled to freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom to assemble and demonstrate peaceably and freedom to write petition to the president. All these freedoms have been exercised in 2019 and will continue to be exercised in 2020. We are all equal in sovereignty and none has more than one vote in electing a representative of any category. Equality is sovereignty is the bedrock of our democracy and Republic.
However, if the nation is to endure and our freedom and rights protected, the guards and fences of these freedoms should be fully understood and embraced by all Gambians who treasure the sovereignty of our people and the sovereignty of our country.
It is incontrovertible that the exercise of power must be restrained by the recognition and respect of rights and all must be bound by the guards and fences of conscience and law.
As we put 2019 behind us Gambians must ensure that our words and actions in exercising power and rights must be safeguarded by the guards and fences of conscience and law.
Once we stay within such bounds peace and justice will never elude us and dignity liberty and prosperity would be our birth -right that we would lay claim to without hindrance and further bequeath them to generations yet unborn. This should be the quest of all Gambians if we want our nation to be a shining example on the face of the earth.
PDOIS calls on you to become a new Gambian who is fit to build a new Gambia for all.
Halifa Sallah
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11721 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2019 : 23:39:55
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New Year message from secretary general of the United Democratic Party
Dear Compatriots
As we take stock of the year that was, we thank Almighty God for the gift of life and the countless blessings. Today, the urgent question for all Gambians is how far have we come as a people in healing the divisions of the past and building a united nation, three years after the dictatorship that had blighted our homeland?
As Gambians we have much to be proud of in our efforts to build a democratic and inclusive nation. We see it every day, in our music and sports arenas, in our National Assembly, and on our television screens where programmes reflect the talent and diversity of our nation and its languages and cultures. We see it in the work of the CRC and most poignantly we see it in the work of the TRRC.
My message this year is focused on reconciliation because reconciliation is impossible as long as corruption continues, some individuals continue to sow division, the vast majority of our people continue to live in poverty, high youth unemployment which has led to a pervasive sense of hopelessness that is responsible for the tragedy off the coast of Mauritania early this month.
This confirms that true reconciliation is not only about conceding civil liberties of the people. It is also about political and economic transformation.
Since we accomplished our democracy three years ago, our people have demonstrated time and again their immense capacity to look beyond superficial differences in the quest to achieve a better Gambia, and with it, embrace a democratic way of life.
This is not to diminish the impact of the past. The Gambia of today still suffers from the effects of two decades of dictatorship, gross human rights violations and Government incompetence. As the author William Faulkner famously wrote of the American South: “The past is not dead and buried. In fact, it isn’t even past.”
We must address the unfinished business of our democratic transition. We must close the festering wound of abject poverty that exists amongst our people. We must forge ahead with law reform and social development. We must continue to transform our workplaces and restructure our economy so that it benefits all.
In this sense, reconciliation is a very practical undertaking. It is about the work that needs to be done to unlock investment in our economy, to reduce the cost of doing business and to promote growth. It is about the urgent measures we need to take to ensure a reliable supply of electricity to homes and businesses. It is about ensuring that our water resources are preserved and equally available to all.
Reconciliation means that we should continue to use the capability of the state to improve the lives of the people, to have a tax regime that is progressive and public finances that are responsibly managed. Reconciliation also requires that we have access to quality health care through, among other things, the introduction of a National Health Insurance.
We need to improve the quality of education nationwide and rural schools in particular and ensure that there is a renewed focus in early childhood development programmes. We must continue to seek out and forge durable social compacts to attain our vision of the ‘Other Gambia’ that has been fundamentally transformed.
We must all play our part if we are to bequeath to our children a society that has truly reconciled. “It is time to put aside egos, individual and collective, for the sake of the youth.”
Let us make a concerted effort to move forward together, focusing on what unites us as Gambians instead of what divides us as one nation.
We shall continue to pray for the soul of our great leader, the first President of the Republic Alh. Sir Dawda K. Jawara and all the souls of the departed, for Allah in His infinite mercy to grant their souls eternal peace.
Let us reach out to each other on this day, and throughout the year build a united democratic nation. I wish you all well over the festive season and all the best for the new year.
Best wishes,
Ousainou ANM Darboe |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11721 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2020 : 10:17:25
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New Year Message from Mohamadou Musa njie, Secretary General and Party Leader PPP
As we end 2019 and enter a New Year, on behalf of myself, my family and my party, People’s Progressive Party, I would like to wish you all a happy and prosperous year ahead. As we reflect back on a very eventful year, we first of all thank the Almighty for making us live to witness it to the end. In 2019, we observed our beloved Gambia go through a very democratic transition as many have witnessed different groups expressing their need for change and demanding to exercise their Constitution rights. As part of the transition process that Gambia is currently witnessing, we have seen the introduction of a New Draft Constitution, while we wait to see the outcome and implementation of the Security Sector Reform, the Civil Service Reform and the Land and Asset Recovery commission which will all go a long way in paving the way forward to maintaining the Peace and Stability in the lives of many Gambians.
We should still stand firm and committed to ensuring that key sectors such as Health, Education, Agriculture and Infrastructural development are put at the forefront of Government’s agenda. It is important to ensure that the Youth and Women are not left behind in all these areas of development, as they should be at the forefront of every initiative set forth. Public Security has seen its share of outcry especially among the youth and the women as the cases of Gender Based Violence has become a public concern. Every citizen is concerned about their security, and that of their families, and their property. We urge the Police to continue doing their best with the support and collaboration of the public. Let me also point out the need to also be more vigilant in the fight against all forms of extremism. Here in The Gambia, we should value the peace and stability that has always prevailed. We must not allow any individual or group of individuals to destroy that.
Once again Happy New Year to all.
Mohamadou Musa Papa Njie
Party Leader and Secretary General
People’s Progressive Party |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11721 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2020 : 17:05:47
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2020 NEW YEAR MESSAGE
By His Excellency,
Mr. Adama Barrow, President of the
Republic of The Gambia
Broadcast Date: 31st December 2019
Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the year, 2020, and the end of 2019. As we reflect on the events of 2019, we pride ourselves on the catalogue of projects, events and successes registered during the year, for which we thank the Almighty Allah. These were clearly outlined in my address to the National Assembly, and require no elaboration.
My government’s policies are geared towards establishing strong institutions and the right legal frameworks for nation building. It is within this context that structures are established, and we have started to realise their impact in the current year.
First, the implementation of the recommendations in the “Janneh Commission” report has marked a sharp turning point for the entire country in respect of the former President’s financial dealings and his close associates.
Second, the TRRC revelations have opened a new chapter in the history of The Gambia and world politics. This Commission has exposed numerous hideous crimes committed under the watch of the former President, instilling a reign of terror in the populace, which resulted in the clamour for change. That change is now embraced by Gambians, and its impact is a source of solace and optimism for all of us.
Third, the submission of a draft Constitution to usher in the Third Republic marks another significant and progressive turning point in the annals of this nation.
My Government has reviewed, approved and presented nine Bills to the National Assembly for consideration. Amongst these are the Access to Information Bill, the Media Services Bill, Public Order Bill and Anti-Corruption Bill.
We have also proposed to remove all gender discriminatory provisions from our laws. These, among others, together with the National Development Plan (NDP) projects, programmes and the continuous institutional reforms have yielded positive outcomes. While we expect to reap the actual fruits of my Government’s strategies in the long term, Gambians will soon enjoy in prosperity and development that encompass the entire nation. It is obvious that the Government has taken the right steps, and we are heading in the right direction.
As such, we welcome the New Year with optimism, confident that greater successes lie ahead. I must observe, importantly, that attaining greater successes require bigger efforts, bigger investments in real terms and bigger sacrifices from every citizen.
It also calls for the fullest exploitation of the energies, competencies and endowments reposed in our human resource for maximum utilisation of the resources at our disposal. This realisation should fortify us in the year ahead; but, our strategies now need to include moderating our differences and refocusing our vision.
Fellow Gambians,
2020 is a popular target year for key global development goals, many of which will not be attained. Although this is not an excuse for failure anywhere, it is a reminder that unforeseen circumstances and external factors can affect any national plan or target.
So far, my Government is in the pursuance of Projects that would touch the lives of rural and urban dwellers as designed in the NDP, and we are poised to do better.
Thus far, the legislative frameworks, structural arrangements and institutional reforms executed manifest how genuine and how organised, realistic and consistent we have been in the pursuit of our national development objectives.
From 2020 onward, sharper focus will be cast on human resource and infrastructure development, the economy, the social services, institutional strengthening and performance.
Our achievements and endorsements, nationally and internationally, have encouraged us to remain at the helm of the affairs of the nation. Today, we are more determined, more focused and much more devoted to the cause of the people.
We have learnt lessons and are better prepared to tackle the challenges that confront us as a nation within the context of a world marked by unexpected developments.
We will continue to galvanise support from the international community through convincing evidence of the vigour, seriousness and sincerity that underline our approach to governance.
We will translate all these into honest, transparent and accountable processes, and will intensify the fight against corruption in public institutions. Succeeding in this venture calls for public support and cooperation.
Let me add that it is the people who develop a country, but it is the people themselves who stall the progress of their nations.
To avoid this, we must not violate the legal frameworks, ethical values and codes of ethics that govern the discharge of our responsibilities and duties.
Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The year 2019 has witnessed many attempts for citizens to exercise their democratic rights. Unfortunately, in the processes, some lives have been lost. I pray that their souls rest in eternal peace, and give the families respite.
Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I swore twice by the Holy Qur’an, in Dakar and in The Gambia, to defend and act according to the national Constitution. Under these circumstances, I cannot accord the Coalition Agreement preference over the Constitution.
The desire to dislodge dictatorship by all democratic means guided us in the development of the Coalition Agreement.
After I took up office, the gravity of the institutional failures, abuse of office, human rights and bad governance became more apparent. Thus, the need to weigh fulfilling the Coalition Agreement and acting on the Constitution I swore to uphold. The confidence and mandate entrusted upon me have subsequently guided my decision to respect the voice and will of the people, by maintaining to serve the full Constitutional mandate of five years.
It is in the same spirit that both the Legislative and Local Government Elections occurred.
The circumstances now dictate that national development and the national interest take precedence over partisan or sectional interests.
While tendering my resignation is not unconstitutional, as some people argue, it is irresponsible and imprudent to do so if it is not prompted and justified by principles linked to statehood and the people. To resign after three years in office implies betraying the people, multitudes of whom continue to pledge support for my Government and our development agenda.
I have judiciously counselled myself to bow to the will of the people, and I refuse to yield to the sentiments and ambitions of a minority group. For this reason, my decision is to complete the five-year mandate stipulated in the Constitution for a sitting President. I am not ill disposed in any way to warrant my resignation as President.
In consequence, the next Presidential Election will be held according to schedule in 2021. For this purpose, the electoral reform process is in progress to ensure that all national elections are free and fair.
The greatest threat to the nation is disorder and instability. Lawlessness will undermine the peace and tranquility we now enjoy.
While all citizens should remain vigilant, the security services have to be alert and well-disposed to maintain law and order, defend our sovereignty and secure our territorial integrity.
I pray that the Almighty Allah bless our motherland, protect and preserve the dignity and honour of the people and grant us the wisdom, fortitude and means to attain all our noble goals as a government and a people.
I urge all citizen to resolve to become better democratic and productive citizens in the year ahead. Let us attune our thoughts and actions with the New Year resolution of creating a sustained climate of inclusive and nationalistic participation for unity, peace, progress and stability forever.
I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. God bless The Gambia, and bless us all.
Thank you for your attention.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
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2020 New year messages of party leaders
