Fellow Gambians, compliments of the season and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all. As we ring in 2020 and wind down what has been a very difficult year for our nation and the world at large I pray for God to shower us with abundant blessings and help us address the challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic that is still with us.

The year 2020 taught us what was most important in our lives – the importance of humanity and an appreciation of the little things in life. We experienced challenges and learned important lessons which we should be grateful for because we had the opportunity to spend more time at home with our families and loved ones. We have in the process also learned tolerance, appreciation, gratitude and strengthened faith as the year was like no other.

“2021” has arrived and we are thankful to be alive, to witness yet another year. We hope that 2021 sees the end to the COVID-19 pandemic and an opportunity for us to return to a “new normal” life.

Twenty twenty-one will also be a year like no other for us Gambians. It is the year we will go to the polls to make one of the most important decisions that will affect our lives and livelihoods. That will be an opportunity for us to salvage our homeland from corruption, greed, incompetence, and false promises and to regain hope for the people of The Gambia.

This year’s election is about choices. Choices about what you, Gambians, want and deserve. The United Democratic Party offers to redesign the narrative and offer a solid, clear and comprehensive road map for the next 5 years and beyond.

Our five-point Agenda plus more is not only a promise to you fellow Gambians, but a firm commitment and a social contract that offers a “programme with a heart” and a menu of realistic and tangible development plans to improve the quality of lives of all Gambians.

The United Democratic Party commits to be of service to all Gambians; to offer change and to bring hope. UDP chooses to stand for The Gambia and for Gambians first and we are optimistic and strongly believe that our government will bring about positive and transformational change.
We aspire to see a Gambia in which our children have quality and continuous lifelong learning – free education up to bachelor’s degree; free health care for every Gambian under the age of 18 years of age and above the age of 65 years and for every pregnant and lactating mother. A Gambia where there are social safety nets available for people with disabilities and for the elderly.
A Gambian which our youth pride themselves with, and are eager to contribute towards and be a part of her progress. A Gambian in which we avoid “brain drain” and benefit from “brain gain”. A Gambia in which “our history” is part of our curriculum. A Gambia in which teachers teach life skills, cognitive skills critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A Gambia in which going to school translates into quality learning and children are taught to value and respect each other.
We aspire for a Gambia where access to quality healthcare is a moral responsibility of the government for every citizen. Where there are adequate hospital beds; enough quality medications; hospitals have enough blood to go around and healthcare workers are not only valued in remuneration but also equipped with the necessary tools to serve the citizenry.
The UDP government is here to be of service; we offer transformational change; we bring hope and we choose to stand for The Gambia first.
I am optimistic that “2021 will offer hope for an end to the pandemic and a gradual return to normal social life.”

I want to conclude by imploring all Gambians to nurture and value our history and diversity we belong together, not apart. There are no “us” and “them”. Whatever politics we identify with can and should be subordinate to the relationships that bind us together. We must reject those who seek to polarise our small close-knit though diverse society for whatever purpose.

We all belong together and everyone one of us has a duty to himself and to the nation we all share to sustain that bond at all times. As we enter into an election year, miscreants will come in all guises but their objectives would be the same and that is to try and appeal to the worst instincts of people, manufacture grievances all designed to pit us against each other in a bid to tear us apart. Let us all be vigilant and be on the lookout for these handful of odd balls who are not many but are loud and relentless. I have great confidence in the goodness and generosity of spirit of the Gambian people who want our politics to be clean, and issue driven.

We at the UDP intend to pursue politics that is commensurate to the values and expectations of the people whose mandate we seek. I once again call on all Gambians particularly those who profess public support for our party to love and respect every Gambian in public discourse and to seek to persuade not confront, to listen to and not to denigrate opponents, and to never ever insult anyone for any reason including when I am insulted. Together we can sustain a political culture that is as good as the people that will line up patiently to determine their fate and that of the country in December 2021. Let us make this election year peaceful and let every citizen be law abiding at all times and May Allah bless The Gambia and all her citizen. 

I thank you all.

Fellow Gambians,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

After months of uncertainty, fears and havoc to human lives and the world economies, finally, 2020 ends today. Notwithstanding widespread suffering globally, as we welcome 2021, there is a lot to be thankful for, knowing that God’s favours and blessings upon humankind are countless and ceaseless. With this realisation, we look forward to 2021 with gratitude, and with much optimism and hope for a year of greater achievements for all of us, as individuals and as a nation.

2020 was not, by any means, a normal productive year. Government performance was not optimal in relation to revenue generation and economic growth. Earnings for the business community across the country were equally below average.

The bright side of all these is that our development path has not been blocked, thus we will continue to work with hope, zeal and confidence.

Fellow Gambians,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Government projects, programmes and sector reforms are on course, as we continue to monitor and keep them on track. In particular, the Civil Service reform is in progress to yield a motivated and dedicated workforce which is sincere to the nation, committed and guided by the regulations that govern service delivery.
The recent salary increments and the new pension scheme in place have been made attractive to align them with the realities of daily life and the cost of living in the country. These positive developments should result in boosting output, work ethics, discipline and professionalism.

Our vision is that all civil and public servants work with dignity, and are respected at home and honoured by the people while in active service and after official retirement. This is the type of quality workforce that The Gambia deserves. The Civil and Public Service will no longer be disrespected, disregarded and used as tools to be hired and fired for no just cause.

Due to the virus, our institutions had to work on rotated shifts and reduced capacity, which impacted negatively on performance, and lowered the national productivity rate. The makeshift arrangements also retarded the attainment of key policy and programme targets. In the year ahead, therefore, all civil and public servants are urged to redouble their efforts and output in order to compensate for lost time and revenue, as the education sector is already doing. We encourage the sectors to emulate the strategies they have employed in the interest of their students and stakeholders.

Let all Heads of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies begin to pride themselves not only on the policies and strategic plans they have developed, but also on the programme targets and tangible results achieved as the days ahead roll by.
The time has come to transit from mere planning and restructuring to hard work and output. This is not an attempt to downplay the role that civil servants have been playing, but a matter of stepping up performance, and warding off unfair criticism.

As we enter 2021, I propose that Work for Quality Performance and Quality Results be adopted as the resolution of the workforce across all sectors, institutions and disciplines.

Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our National Development Plan was designed for a three-year period, ending December, 2021. We now have to begin a stocktaking process to assess and evaluate our performance so far. This is necessary to inform the next steps, especially for designing a longer-term successor plan. The process calls for the participation of all categories of citizens, both within and out of Government circles.

The need for transparency and accountability should compel us to create an inclusive and participatory climate, with the required public space, open and wide enough to accommodate all shades of ideas, expertise and skills.

Collectively, peace, progress and national unity should remain our ultimate target. Given the communal nature of our communities, it should be easy for us to come together, bound by the values that cut across our families, clans, districts, regions and the communities within them. This is a country where peace and unity can easily bind us in a flourishing society.

Fellow Gambians,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Although 2020 was clouded by the pandemic, it was a year of politics, debate and dialogue, as we ventured into crafting a new Constitution for the Third Republic. All is not lost, since we still have the opportunity to produce another draft Constitution at the appropriate time.

2021 is expected to be a year of more vigorous political activities, as potential candidates prepare to contest for the highest office of the land. No matter what our dreams, wishes and hopes may be, let us all play by the rule and the law. Let the law and our noble values and conscience define our thoughts, decisions and actions. I address this plea to all political parties, surrogates and citizens alike. In particular, let us not allow any external interference in our national affairs and interpersonal relationships.

In The Gambia, rightly or wrongly, we tend to associate whatever happens with God, but we must admit that, individually and collectively, we are responsible for our actions and, therefore, their consequences. To a great extent, people determine the course of their lives and, thereby, the nature of their communities and the pace and level of their progress and development.

In view of this, it is obvious that the number and magnitude of our successes depend on the way we utilise the potential that resides in us and the resources put at our disposal. These include the land, water, fauna and flora, which have to be utilised wisely and usefully.

Individual differences within our families, communities and institutions do not allow us to think and act in the same way. These differences, however, like our cultural diversity, can foster mutual cooperation, specialisation and division of work for the development of a healthy and productive society that can address challenges amicably and carve out avenues to attain set goals. I ask that we bear this in mind, and work in harmony to redeem the nation permanently from injustice, poverty and underdevelopment.
In the process, we must trust the Security Services, and support them to secure the land and the people, and to maintain order and stability.
I pledge to stand for the cause of the nation and the wishes of the people. For now, the health of every citizen and the resilience of the economy are of special interest to my government. Accordingly, health matters and economic recovery strategies and programmes will continue to be accorded special focus. We hope to make the economy robust enough to withstand unforeseen circumstances, such as pandemics and other types of calamities. As we crave your indulgence, given the difficult circumstances in which we find ourselves, we are encouraged by the volume of rainfall recorded this year and the reduction of coronavirus infections.

Fellow Gambians,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

As always, I must express appreciation to all those who contributed to the successes registered in the year. This cuts across all sectors and all types of contributions made either through Government or other avenues for the welfare of the people. We thank everyone, with special recognition given to our close friends, partners and the international community.

Trusting that 2021 will be a year of peace and success, I wish every citizen and resident of the country a very peaceful, blessed, prosperous and happy year ahead. In our prayers, let us remember the departed souls, the sick and the vulnerable groups in our midst, the nation and the world at large.
Once again, Happy 2021 to you all.

By Baba Galleh Jallow

As the sun was rising the following day, Alkatan sat on his sheepskin outside his hut, stoking his small beard, and musing at the strangeness of life. His thoughts were on Afang Hadumeh. He knew sooner or later, he would hear something about the greedy trader. He was not surprised when suddenly, an ominous scream wafted into his ears, and continued in long notes, over and over again. It was the voice of a man screaming woooi . . . . woooi . . . . woooi they have killed me! Woooi they have killed me! Woooi they have destroyed my world! The ghostly lamentations were loud and clear, piercing the early morning airs of Tonya Kunda like a horrible tragedy. Against the background of the screams Alkatan could hear a cacophony of agitated voices shouting and talking loudly.

Alkatan groaned, and shook his head, wondering why humans wilfully bring so much pain upon themselves and their loved ones. He wondered why people do not heed the wisdom of the elders and the ancestors, why people often doubt that the path of the soul is longer than the grave. He wondered why people like Afang Hadumeh could not see that a rat cannot give birth to a rabbit, nor a rabbit to a rat. That we cannot sow pepper and reap sugar cane. Afang Hadumeh could have created a paradise for himself and his progeny with his wealth. But he chose to do the exact reverse. He chose to be cruel and stingy, even to his own family. For while Afang Hadumeh was the wealthiest man in Tonya Kunda, his family often went hungry for days on end because business was not good and Afang Hadumeh could not afford to lose his money. And so he gave only a fraction of the usual fish money to each of his four wives, and he subsisted on bread and other snacks in his large shop . . . . It was a matter of constant wonder for the people of Tonya Kunda that Afang Hadumeh did not even wear shoes. Some said it was the secret of his wealth, but many knew Afang Hadumeh was just too stingy to buy a pair of shoes every once in a while. So he avoided shoes altogether. “Shoes? What shoes?” he liked to ask. ‘What if you bought shoes and you went somewhere and you forgot them there? Is that not a loss?”

Alkatan sighed and looked up. He saw a woman approaching his hut. She did not seem to be in any particular hurry, but Alkatan could feel the urgency of her demeanor as she greeted and addressed him.

“Good morning Ba Alkatan,” she said. “I have come to beg you to come help my husband, Afang Hadumeh. It seems like his eyes are touched this morning. I was told you came to beg him to untie Niara Dinding’s husband yesterday. That’s why I came. Hadumeh is a difficult man; his affairs are very difficult; but he is my husband and the father of my children. So I have to get up and try to do something. Please do it for God and come help us Ba Alkatan.”

“Nna, I have heard your words,” Alkatan said, calmly. “Please sit on that chair and tell me what happened to your husband so we see if I can help him.” The woman sat down, quietly, her face tense, the look in her eyes inscrutable. But Alkatan saw the deep worry and the chronic pain in her eyes; he saw the woman who would suffer in silence, for years, for decades, for life because she was told there was nothing she could do. Alkatan sighed, and the tears flowed in his heart.

“Ba Alkatan,” the woman started, looking down at her feet then up at Alkatan. “I am Hadumeh’s first wife. He slept in my bed last night. Around dawn, when the cocks started crowing, he started shouting in his sleep. He shouted three times before I could wake him up. When he woke up he sat up, looked at me and said, “eh, so this was all a dream?” I said to him, “what dream, you were shouting in your sleep.” He did not say anything. He just got up and went to perform the ablution and went to the mosque for the morning prayers. When he came back he told me about his dream. He said he had dreamed that thieves had stolen all his wealth; but that he just passed by his shop and the doors were all locked, just like he left them yesterday. He said he opened the door and saw that nothing was touched; he said all the merchandise was there like he left it yesterday. Then he locked up and came to have his breakfast.” The woman paused, and looked at Alkatan. Then she continued.

“Eh, when he finished breakfast, he went to open the shop. Then I heard him shouting again, just as he was shouting in his sleep, saying woooi they have killed me; woooi they have destroyed my world. He kept shouting that, and we all ran to see what happened. We found Hadumeh standing in the middle of his shop, his hands on his head, just shouting and shouting. We saw that there was nothing in the shop; not even a piece of paper. All the merchandise was gone. Even the chair he sits on was gone, and the iron box where he kept all his money and gold. All that was left in the shop was his big stick, the one he uses to beat us and the children and anyone who offended him. Eh, we do not know how this happened and we asked him again and again, Hadumeh, what happened, Hadumeh what happened? Ba Alkatan, what he told us was strange. I don’t even know the head or tail of it” The woman paused again, held her mouth and continued telling Alkatan what Afang Hadumeh said.

“Eh, after some time he stopped shouting and said last night he was sleeping when he dreamt that someone was calling his name and telling him that some people were waiting for him at his shop. He said he got up and went; when he went he found about eight young men standing near the shop; he said one of them told him “Hadumeh, open your shop.” He said when he opened the shop, the men started loading all his merchandise in a big truck standing by. He said he stood by and saw them load everything in the shop onto the truck, even his money box. He said when they took everything from the shop, they told him, “Hadumeh, now you can lock the shop and go back to sleep.” He said he then saw the truck moving away. As soon as the truck started moving, he said he started shouting and that was when he woke up in my bed. He said when he went to the mosque and back, he saw that the shop was locked. He said he even opened the shop to make sure and everything was inside. Nothing was missing. But he said after breakfast when he went to open the shop, he found it empty. Nothing was there. When he said that, he started shouting again. And he took his stick and started beating everybody and saying they have killed him. We had to shout so that the men could come. When the men came, they all fell on him and brought him to the ground and tied him up. That’s when he stopped shouting; but he kept crying and groaning that they have killed him. We are worried Ba Alkatan. What shall we do? Eh this world!” The woman fell silent, and bent her head.

Alkatan groaned. His heart cried for the woman and Hadumeh’s family. But do humans not bring upon themselves the wrath of their own souls which are outraged at the suffering of other souls caused by humans? If all Hadumeh loved was his wealth, how could he be helped when his wealth was forever gone because he had used it to inflict injustice on his fellow humans? This time was bound to come for Hadumeh, as it does for everyone like him. But Alkatan knew that while the woman was worried, she and Hadumeh’s family would do just fine. He knew that soon enough, they would learn to enjoy some relief because Hadumeh had become poor, and he would become quiet. But the family would thrive by their labor and would support Hadumeh as long as he lived.

“Eh, Nna,” Alkatan said. “This is a very sad situation; but the only way your husband can be helped is by bringing back his wealth; and I cannot do that. What I see is that he will be all right; his eyes will not be touched. But he will taste poverty because he will never get his wealth back. But you and your family will be able to help him. When you go you will find that they have untied him; but he will not talk much from now on because he can never stop thinking about his wealth. You go home now and hold onto God. He will help you.”

The woman thanked Alkatan and left shortly before Afang Njonji, the Alkalo of Kaira Kunda came to seek Alkatan’s help about a sorcerer he said had turned his peaceful village into a place of conflict, fear and restlessness. Alkatan listened as the alkalo told him the strange story of Nyakahel the sorcerer who, when he came to Kaira Kunda, insisted he was the real alkalo and went about beating women who quarreled with their husbands and forcing people to drink his medicine because he insisted they were sick even if they were as healthy as iron!

Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tomorrow is Christmas Day, which is an important day on the solar calendar. As we look forward to celebrating it, we must thank the Almighty God and praise Him for granting us the divine blessing of living to witness another Christmas season. No matter what our concerns or fears may have been during the course of the year, this is a moment of joy, celebration and thanksgiving.

It is particularly so for the Christian Community, noting that Christmas means a lot to them; therefore, I congratulate all Christians on this solemn occasion. However, I hasten to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives during the year, either due to the pandemic or any other cause. We pray that the departed souls rest in peace.
As a nation, we express heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and pray that God strengthens their faith to bear the loss.

Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Like other communities, the Christian Community was not spared by the pandemic. The challenges it posed globally prevented them from attending church service to fulfil their religious duties. As COVID cases surged in the country, they could not even attend to their major religious functions and feasts, such as Easter.

Life and time are marked by events and lessons. As servants of God, the pandemic has taught us bitter, but useful lessons about life.

It has reminded us of our weakness as human beings and that, no matter how absorbed we may be in worldly affairs, life is not within our control. This should compel us to give due attention to our obligations, and accord human life significance over everything else.

In harmony with the beliefs and teachings of Christianity, my government maintains that any action taken in the country must seek to protect life and the livelihoods of the people. The attainment of such noble goals makes it obligatory for all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation, to consistently dialogue, cooperate and support one another.

I am pleased to observe that Christians in the country have been patient and cooperative. The Christian Council, for example, has been engaging my government, and has remained law-abiding, while supporting our development efforts.

When unusual resolutions had to be made, leading to the declaration of a State of Public Emergency, the Community restrained themselves and acted with due diligence. I commend The Gambia Christian Council, therefore, and the entire Christian Community in the country for their support, patience, discipline and cooperation.

Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we go through the phases of reshaping and consolidating our democratic institutions, every sector of our society would certainly wish to reclaim and assert their rights to ensure that they have a Constitutional shield against injustice.

In this respect, the Christians have been playing an active role in making their collective voice heard to make sure that their rights are protected, especially as Constitutional matters continue to feature on our national agenda.

It is reassuring that Gambians recognise that such efforts should always focus on finding common ground on issues that generate divergent views. This is one of the key features of democracy, but it is important that no section of society overplays its role.

I am alive to the principle that everyone has the right to be protected, no matter what our religious beliefs may be. Even though Christians are statistically a minority community in The Gambia, their rights are as significant as the rights of their non-Christian compatriots. As citizens, all are equal before the law, and have equal rights. We are Gambians without distinction, and should strive together for the progress and development of our dear country.
To sustain peaceful coexistence and progress, regardless of who or what we are, we have to adhere to the basic principles of living together, accommodating one another and acting as law-abiding citizens.

It is fundamental to remember that one’s rights end where another person’s rights begin. To live harmoniously, we have to embrace and promote the universal values of patience, tolerance, love and care when we deal with our fellow citizens or other human beings.

Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Under my leadership, the Government will always defend the right to protection, safety and security for all citizens, including the Christian Community.
In The Gambia, our relationships go beyond religion; we are neighbours and family.

Reflecting on the history of the nation, I recognise the role of the Christian Community in national development and their significant contribution to the lives of the people. Their humanitarian engagements are quite visible. We know that many prominent non-Christian Gambians have been educated in Christian schools, and the number keeps increasing.

We are aware, to cite another example, that Christian charity groups support refugees in the country, yet the majority of the beneficiaries are non-Christians. These are noble acts of generosity arising from their belief and desire to serve God and humanity. We thank all of them for being charitable.

As we continue to develop and evolve as a true democratic nation, my government remains committed to safeguarding the rights of all minority groups, and we will continue to accommodate them in the governance structures of the country. This has been reflected in my Cabinet.

The main objective is for us to work and develop together to become stronger and happier as Gambians. When abnormal things happen along the way, we must accommodate the divergent views that surface, and reconcile them through constructive dialogue.

Fellow Gambians,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

2020 is a year to be remembered for the unfortunate, huge loss of lives around the world. We mourn for all of them, including prominent personalities like Bishop Emeritus, Michael Joseph Cleary, who touched many lives and contributed to the development of our dear country. Once again, we pray that they rest in eternal peace.

I ask our Christian brothers and sisters, through the guidance of their leadership, to pray for the continual wellbeing of all Gambians and peoples of the world. These are times that call for prayers for global peace, for respite from the pandemic, for the recovery of all those affected by ill-health and for the revival of the world economies.

We are grateful to God that coronavirus infections and related deaths in the country have declined. Let us give thanks, and pray that life returns to complete normalcy so that we can forge ahead with our development programmes. We thank all those who contributed to the fight against the pandemic.

As we celebrate Christmas, let everyone be mindful of the health guidelines and regulations, and ensure that we wear a mask whenever we have to go to public places.

I wish you all Merry Christmas.