Democratic Language….
If you have observed you would notice that instead of my usual ‘Hello Mr President’ I have written ‘Hello Chief Servant Adama Barrow’. This is to bring it home to you that as an elected official, you are the servant of the people – your electorate. Therefore, We the people of the Gambia, the Sovereign citizens of this country, are your employers and as such you should respect us just as we should respect you.
In all the times that I have met you in person, Mr President, I have observed that you are a very humble and decent human being. You are a respectful, honourable, dignified and sincere individual. It is interesting that you don’t even raise your voice to anyone! I honour you. I respect you. I value you. I support you. And I obey you!
However, as a president, you don’t only have to take care of your own approach to people, or how you talk to people; you also have to ensure that your officials respect and promote the language of decorum – the democratic language.
It is definitely essential for government officials to respect their electors and speak to them in a seemly manner. It has been observed that some government officials are not paying attention to this golden rule. They may say that as appointees of the president, we did not elect them. True. We didn’t vote for them; but we voted for you who appointed them. Had we not voted for you, you wouldn’t have employed them. So they should respect us as the bosses of their boss, so to speak.
Last month we heard a minister tell a young man that had it been his (the young man’s) father he would not have spoken to him the way he was them addressing him (the minister). Let me tell these ministers, permanent secretaries, directors that once one takes public office, your life no longer belongs to you exclusively. You will be attacked, insulted, disrespected; but you’re to bear all that as you’re a leader working for the people to set examples. So a public servant should bear all these with humility and magnanimity.
Again last week when the people of Gunjur complained of the foul smell emanating from the rotten fish caused by the Golden Lead Factory, a government functionary taunted them by saying, ‘In other countries, the smell you are complaining of here is called the smell of money.’ Can you imagine!
Have these people forgotten that we are in a democracy where the people are the masters and the government the servant? Mr President, I think you should make it known to your employees that no disrespect to the public will be condoned.
The people have genuine concerns and have nowhere to complain other than the government. So, we will rant, we will be impatient, the unruly among us will insult; yet you and your employees will have to bear it all.
I’m in no way saying that the people should disrespect elected officials. This is not what I am saying at all. All I am saying is that respect is reciprocal and the functionaries are expected to have a small ego and accept the silly things some of us will say and do. They are to set excellent examples of steadfastness and forbearance.
Have a Good Day, Mr President….
Tha Scribbler Bah
A Concerned Citizen
