By Lamin Njie
The People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism, PDOIS, has called on the conveners of the ongoing coalition talks to keep the party out of their discussions.
Coalition 2016 leaders on Friday commenced talks over the future of the seven-party political grouping which shot President Adama Barrow to power. All the parties except PDOIS have been taking part in the meeting.
On Monday, PDOIS issued a statement asking the conveners of the meeting to exclude the party from the meeting.
The statement which was signed by the party’s administrative secretary Edi Jallow said: “A National conversation on coalition 2016 has been initiated at Kairaba Hotel. PDOIS has excluded itself from the conversation.
“Since 2017 the President has exercised executive authority without the oversight of a coalition. Cabinet composition has been determined without any reference to a coalition agreement. National Assembly and Council Elections have taken place in 2017 and 2018, respectively, without any consideration of a Coalition agreement.
“By 2018, parties have held their congresses and have taken major decisions regarding the shaping of the political dispensation of the country without any reference to a Coalition agreement. In this regard, the Bureau of the Central Committee of PDOIS considers it prudent to call on the convener to exclude PDOIS from the current conversation on matters relating to Coalition 2016.
“The Media is hereby informed that PDOIS is not part of the conversation and its leadership had already requested the convener not to include it in the conversation.”
