Today marks a true reflection of selfless service of the people who struggled for the attainment of self governance and realization as a nation. In an effort to liberate our people from dependency to self esteem and with the mantra of reaching out to the targeted goals clock fifty six years exemption of reliance.

This is the spirit of servant leadership and as we celebrate this year’s anniversary, The Gambia Action Party strives for genuine feeling towards national development. Our independence as a nation has no denotation or referent when majority of the citizens wallow in abject poverty and starvation as survival becomes an uphill battle for more than half of the country’s population. The rise in commodity prices at the markets has no justification and does not depict the true nature of the Gambian standards of living as poverty continue to grip our nation.

Our agricultural and socio-economic sectors have been crippled, the educational frontiers are becoming increasingly difficult to align with the international standard, the healthcare sector in deterioration and the dilapidated conditions of the roads still exist. The Gambia Action Party led government shall ensure better operational measures geared towards this endeavour.

Fellow Gambians, self-food sufficiency, well secured nation with effective border control, low crime rates, extirpation of corruption,  provision for the youth development mechanisms and the people centric approach shall be implemented under a GAP led administration as development can only be grabbed when our teeming youth engross in various businesses, transforming their talents, skills and expertise to produce goods that we need for survival.

Our independence as a nation is meaningless when our government is in dereliction state of affairs to beshield the sovereignty and protecting our birthright is a cause that we cannot afford to swerve. Our mission is to ensure the Gambia compete globally in all fronts.

We call for all the citizens to be law abiding and maintain the good relationships amongst ourselves as the sovereign owners of The Gambia. In our quest for development, we must not base our daily practices on tribalism, defamatory comments, regional, religious or sectional connotations as we are all Gambians on an equal grounds. Our ideological political differences must not create enmity, divisiveness, hatred or harbour anger against one another but a clear manifestation that our strength as a nation rest on ideals, unity, friendliness and component necessary for the nation’s triumph.

As COVID-19 engulf the nation, we call on everyone to be in adherence of W.H.O protocols and Ministry of Health. Life will never be the same again as we lost dear ones and more people getting infected by the day, we pray for the departed souls and let life be back to normalcy.

Secretary General & Party Leader of GAP,

Hon Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly.

Once again, we have assembled to celebrate The Gambia’s historic attainment of Independence as a sovereign state. Fifty-six years on today, we thank God for allowing us to continue the never-ending task of nation building.

Together, we can look back with pride, satisfied that Gambian citizens themselves are ably managing the affairs of the nation, even though our pace of development could have been faster.

Due to the pandemic, for instance, 2020 was not a normal year globally. With the new Coronavirus variants spreading wider and faster, 2021 has not started well either. Nonetheless, it is a significant year for various reasons.

First, it marks the end of our three-year National Development Plan. Second, it is the target year to usher in the Third Republic. Third, it is the year to elect a President, and mark the end of the current transition phase under my leadership.

Despite all the challenges, we should note that obstacles that tend to slow down progress can actually inspire us further, and strengthen our determination to succeed. This was demonstrated as we confronted the 2020 challenges, and we are more determined today than ever.

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Boys and Girls,

The Gambia’s attainment of Political Independence on 18th February, 1965 was chiefly about sovereignty and self-determination. Globally, these ideals are reflected in the freedom people enjoy in order to lawfully pursue their interests, progress and wellbeing.

Our sovereignty should be measured, therefore, by the extent of our security as a nation and as individuals. This depends on how civil liberties and freedoms are guaranteed to fulfil the people’s aspirations and the realisation of their potential individually as members of a nation, family and society. This realisation guides my Government’s policies.

As we celebrate our National Day, let us appreciate that Political Independence and National Sovereignty are portrayed by the recognition, dignity, freedom and self-determination of a people. Broader still, sovereignty is about self-rule through domestic policies, and interdependence through foreign policies and cooperation. It does not imply isolation.

In this regard, we must look inward as a nation to tap our resources and comparative advantages, and look outward to supplement them and compensate for our shortcomings.

This is why bilateral relations and membership to multinational organisations are relevant government strategies worldwide.

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Boys and Girls,

Sovereignty, as a key focus of this address, entails Government engagement in circumstances wherein the State and people are one unified, solid entity. Within this framework, our identity as a nation is characterised by our cultures, which are informed by our individual beliefs, principles and actions.

How far we go and how high the Gambian flag flies depend on how united we are and how closely we work towards attaining our national targets.  Significantly, our political affiliations and choices determine our development trends, and our determination, diligence and economic status drive our development activities.

Distinguished Personalities,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Boys and Girls,

Working with the various arms of government and the security sector, my Administration will continue to defend the sovereignty of the country, and protect the freedoms and liberties of the people.

On the other hand, we encourage all Gambian citizens to make use of those liberties to exploit the existing opportunities, promote positive socio-political values and engage in activities that enhance national development.

Linked to democracy, our national vision is informed by the hopes, aspirations and will of the people; hence, my Government objects to all forms of injustice and oppression, as reflected in our decisions and actions. Crucially, we are a government that has the passion and commitment to transform our thoughts and ideals into reality through policies, programmes and projects.   

Constitutionally, I am mandated to listen to the people, which is the essence of the annual Meet The People Tour. The feedback from the last tour was quite positive and inspiring. Thus, we will continue to listen, and exhibit the will and integrity to act rightly.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me reassure you all that my Government is steadfast and confident of delivering on our promises. So, let us muster our collective will as agents of change and progress to continue the development and democratic transformation of our institutions and society, while resisting division and injustice.

Together, let us remain civil and tolerant, socially and politically. If we coexist in peace and harmony, we will excel as a united force, which is the basis of success.

The Gambia’s international ratings in various areas of life are impressive, and are improving year by year.  

We will remain focused, conscious that we have a vision to realise, a mission to fulfil, policies, programmes and projects to deliver and the will to act and stay resolute.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

In a democracy, the government plans, reacts and acts in the interest and on behalf of the people, but not the influential few only. Where there is divergence, the voice of the majority should prevail, no matter how powerful the minority may appear to be. 

It is now clear that my Government adheres strictly to universal democratic principles and values. This underlies the institutions we seek to strengthen, the goals we set, the programmes we implement, and the manner our governance structures are fashioned and programmed to operate.

It should be noted, however, that democratic principles should guide governments, as well as individuals, families, institutions and organisations. In the process, we must accept each citizen as an independent person entitled to free choice and voice, once they do not violate the law and the noble values we hold as a people.

The 2021 Presidential Election provides an opportunity for all Gambians to display political prudence and discipline, bound by democratic values.

Our Government has been prepared adequately by the experience gathered over the past years to meet the people’s expectations. We know where the needs of the people are greatest, how painful it is to live in an underdeveloped country, how bitter it is to be marginalised and how unjust it is to be deprived of our rights and forced to accept what is not in our best interest.

As always, I plead for national unity, reconciliation and tolerance. The true Gambian nature is marked by warmth, sympathy, generosity and willingness to support one another. Let us apply these values wherever we may be.

For the good of all, we need to give a new meaning to National Independence through our relationships, interactions and service to the nation within the framework of good governance, speedy development and peaceful coexistence in a nation and government for all citizens.

The time has come for us to courageously look into the future with optimism, accept one another, patch up our differences, and find ways of working together in the national interest.

We have witnessed how partisan politics and conflict pull people apart and undermine the power and glory of nations, no matter how great they may be. Not even the most powerful are spared of division if the law is not upheld.

The lesson is that the law guarantees the mandate of governments and the rights of the people; therefore, let us work together to achieve our development goals and desire for national unity.

Boys and Girls,

My mandate as President compels me to focus on the national picture in whatever we do, while being mindful of the concerns of the individuals, communities and diverse groups that form our society.

As a result, my Administration believes that we should have smart citizens who are soundly educated, sufficiently enlightened, duly exposed, relevantly experienced and adequately empowered with the necessary expertise and skills to constitute a quality human resource base for development. Education will continue, therefore, to be a national priority, and opportunities will remain endless for all children and youths to exploit.

Our target is to maintain a robust education system that delivers results based on the needs of the learners and stakeholders. I advise you, boys and girls, to be ambitious; learn to search for knowledge and utilise it to the advantage of society as a whole.

Reject drugs, crime, ethnic rivalry and all vices that are harmful and obstacles to your wellbeing and those around you. Condemn violence and division, embrace the nation, and strive to be useful and law-abiding patriots. The future is for you to shape, and now is the time to think about how you want to live in it. Getting it right today means succeeding tomorrow.   

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

With much honour, I thank all those within Government, especially the Cabinet members and their staff, our representatives around the world, the institutions, corporate bodies, religious leaders, civil society organisations and every law-abiding citizen and resident of The Gambia for your support and cooperation.

I also register deep gratitude to our international friends and partners for supporting the development and welfare of our people and nation.   On behalf of all Gambians, I commend the school children and their parents and teachers, the Education Sector personnel and the Security Services for their bright outfits and impressive parade.

By no means the least, I thank all those present for adding grace to the occasion. To the participants and organisers of the event, we say: well done, and thank you very much.   

Finally, I congratulate every Gambian on this solemn occasion, but as we celebrate, let us remember the health regulations, and protect ourselves and those around us by wearing a proper mask and sanitising our hands often.

May God bless The Gambia, and bless us all.

Thank you for your attention.      

1. Banjul [Bathurst] was established in 1816, nine years after the abolition of the slave trade, primarily as a fort to prevent the river from being used by other nations for the export of slaves. British and French merchants interested in legitimate trade soon began to settle on St. Mary’s Island (Kombo) under the protection of the fort and the military post grew into a town. The Settlement became a Crown Colony in 1821.
2. In the beginning the new colony had a hard struggle for existence. The abolition of the slave trade was far from pleasing to the Chiefs and to the native traders up river who found themselves deprived of a very profitable source of income. Beeswax, hides, timber and gum were a poor substitute financially for slaves and the merchants had an uphill task in building up a profitable trade. By 1829 the total imports and exports amounted to only 30K to 40K pounds Sterling.
3. 1866—The British Government Select Committee wrote a policy paper ordering a severe retrenchment from all British West African Settlements except for Freetown in Sierra Leone. The British were in serious negotiations with the French to exchange Gambia for some other French colony (Guinea, Ivory Coast, Benin and Gabon). The negotiations failed when the French refused to swap Dahomey (Benin) for Gambia in 1876.
4. The British Government refused to allow the Governor of the Gambia to interfere with the internal affairs of the tribes on the river banks and up till 1893 the Colonial Office recorded annually: “The Administrator of the Gambia exercises no jurisdiction over the population surrounding the British Settlements.” The British Empire was at first apathetic and hostile to any suggestion of active supervision or colonization of the Gambian territory.
5. The Anglo-French Convention of 1889 defined the current borders of modern day Gambia as an absurd narrow enclave within a French Colony.
6. Groundnuts, first introduced to the Gambia by the Portuguese in the 1600s was the second major export from the new colony in 1830—about 100 baskets. The British governor, Sir. Arthur Molony (1884-1886) called it “the commercial idol of the Gambia”. The Gambia was then dubbed the “Groundnut Colony.”
7. The Gambia was steeped in tribal warfare between 1851 until 1901 which sometimes threatened the existence of the British colony in Banjul: Internal dissension, civil wars, domestic slavery, women kidnapped/raped in the fields, and traders frequently robbed.
8. These tribal wars between the Fulas, Mandinkas and Jolas obliged the British in Banjul to intervene; and some among these tribes placed themselves voluntarily under British protection. The British Colony grudgingly signed treaties and agreements with local chiefs along the river Gambia from Barra to Koina in order to protect the local inhabitants from the jihads and tribal wars.
9. The Legislative Council (which later evolved into the Gambia National Assembly) was established in 1893; and a Protectorate Ordinance of 1894 issued giving the local chiefs semi-autonomy under the direct supervision of a British Commissioner.
10. In 1901, Musa Mollo, the King of Fulladu and the most powerful man during pre-colonial Gambia, finally signed a treaty with the British Colony and effectively created the country we called today the “Gambia” an entirely British Colony and Protectorate.

By Ebou Jallow

The Gambia used to be one of the most isolated, most oppressive and disconsolately countries in the world when it comes to respect for the rule of law and due process. Just over four years ago, everything seemed to be just normal by the standard of failed state ruled by a dictator. People were heavily restricted, civil societies movements were systematically scrutinized, thousands of political activists were jailed, economic sanctions largely imposed by the west. The questions everyone wants to know is that why change has not come after so many decades of dictatorship? What are the significant driving forces behind this? Why does the government lack public trust as well as the strive to create a broader space in combating corruption?

Motivation of my write-up

I was born and grew up in The Gambia a great chunk of my life under Jawara’s and early part of Jammeh regime. I travelled to the United States for a better and more secure life. When I came to the USA, one of the most encouraging factors that I found important was the driving force behind healthy democracy and good governance. Without a doubt, one of the greatest organizational capacity of good governance, is to build on the quality of organizations so that development is based on organizational capacity rather than simply relying on political will, personal will of a strong leader and state power, which may not be sustainable over the longer term.

Having a skilled staff is not sufficient if the government organization do not have the capacity to make good use of these skills. Capacity of government organizations is a key factor in the provision of many important services to businesses and the public, and in creating conditions for economic progress and social cohesion. After fifty-four years of economic stagnation, insurmountable corruption, massive national debt and lack of effective government that works for everyone; what is our stake and commitment in turning our country around?

How long will we own a depleting health care system which has resulted in lost of lives whilst our national coffers are looted? How long will we own a poor electricity system that cannot supply stable source of power without constant load shedding? How long will we own poor infrastructure system? How long will we own a government that works just for a few and not for all Gambians? How long will we own a government which allows vultures and mafias schmoozing our meager resources? How long will we own a government that is fixated on longevity in government as a hiring tool rather than hiring qualified personnel who will bring transformational change?

The struggle that defeated Yaya Jammeh was solely based on the belief that Gambia deserves better, her people deserve better, both urban and rural Gambia deserves better, our agricultural sector deserves better. With these rhetorical questions in mind, are we better off now than four years ago? Let’s reflect on the possibility of something new for all Gambians because we deserve better! Reflect on the massive national debt we incur as a country which the government has been asking for deferment on the payments! Reflect on the composition of personnel who are in key positions within our government have they delivered on the basic needs? With ten months away before 2021 December national elections, let us start a conversation in our political rallies, gatherings, homes and bantabas which will address these needs. The renewed energy and enthusiasm across the political spectrum are commendable let’s redouble our efforts in order to salvage Gambia from its current predicament. Our political environment is intense, this will increase as the elections draw near let us fasten our belts because it worth the FIGHT! For fifty-four years this notion that somehow, we must continue on the path of mediocrity will not only deter progress as a country but will go at greater length in betraying the trust of those who died for the freedom.

Sariang Marong

Vancouver, WA

USA