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Nation’s new Islamic leader is 63 years old and from Gunjur, like his predecessor

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The country’s new Islamic leader Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe is a 63-year-old ‘great’ linguist and writer, according to a biography on him.

Sulayman Bin Tumani Danjo in a biography translated by Canada-based Basidia M Drammeh said Sheikh Essa grew up in a family with a prominent religious and political position in Gunjur.

A great linguist, an able writer, and preacher, Sheikh Darboe is a graduate of the College of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies at the Islamic The University of Madinah, and principal of the Solidarity Center for Islamic Studies, the Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of Arab Islamic Education in The Gambia, and lecturer at the Gambia College in Brikama, according to the biography.

The biography continued: “Sheikh Essa Darboe began his educational career at a very early age, at his father’s hands in Darboe Kunda in Gunjur before he finally joined Sheikh Hattab Bojang School, may God have mercy on him, in 1964. He was about seven years old at that time.

“He learned to read and write and remained attached to Sheikh Hattab, learning from him in the regular school and attending his lessons and lectures, until 1968 when Sheikh Hattab travelled to Saudi Arabia to join the Islamic University of Madinah, and from there he proceeded to Omdurman Islamic University in Sudan. In 1973, Sheikh Hattab graduated from the Islamic University of Omdurman and returned to his home country, the Gambia, to continue his education mission. After Sheikh Hattab Bojang’s return, Sheikh Essa Darboe and the other students continued with him.”

According to the biography, Sheikh Essa was in September 1976 appointed as a teacher at the Ministry of Education under the supervision of Sheikh Hattab, who sent him to the “Pakalinding” primary school to teach Qur’an and Islamic subjects at the age of 28. Sheikh Hattab Bojang was then the general supervisor of Arab Islamic education at the Ministry of Education, the biography said.

It continued: “In 1977, Sheikh Essa Darboe took part in a training course supervised by his Sheikh Hattab Bojang, representing the Ministry of Education in the Gambia. The Ministry organized the course in coordination with the World Federation of Arab Schools in Riyadh, Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud University and King Saud University in Saudi Arabia to train Quran teachers in Gambia’s public schools for three months.

“In October 1979, Sheikh Essa Darboe obtained a scholarship from The Islamic University of Madinah. He arrived in Madinah in January 1980, where he joined the secondary institute of the Islamic University.

“In 1982, Sheikh Essa graduated from the General Secondary Institute of the Islamic University and obtained a General Secondary Certificate.

“In 1986, Sheikh Essa obtained a BA degree in Arabic Language and Islamic Studies at the Islamic University, and he was the first Gambian student to graduate from this college.

“In 1988, Sheikh Essa obtained a higher diploma in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers at King Saud University in Riyadh.

“In 1988, Sheikh Essa Darboe returned to his home country of The Gambia after his mentor, Sheikh Hattab Bojang passed away. When he arrived, he found that the academic projects left by Sheikh Hattab were on the brink of extinction, so he undertook, in cooperation with Sheikh Muhammad Al-Amin Touray and Sheikh Dembo Kurus Touray and Sheikh Ismail Manjang, an initiative aimed at reviving these projects.

“Finally, they succeeded in those initiatives, underlying their loyalty to their late sheikh. Once they succeeded in the restoration of many Islamic schools founded by Sheikh Hattab in urban and rural areas, in addition to the Islamic Solidarity Association for West Africa – they agreed that Sheikh Mohamed Al-Amin Touray should assume the presidency of the association, Sheikh Essa Darboe as his deputy, and Sheikh Ismail Manjang as the Principal of the Khaled Bin Al Waleed Islamic School in Kombo Gunjur.

“Sheikh Essa Darboe is equally a lecturer at the Brikama College, the Solidarity Center for Islamic Studies, and an instructor at Khaled Ibn Al-Waleed Islamic School in Kombo Gunjur at times. He also gives classes in exegesis, hadith, jurisprudence and others.

“In 1998, Sheikh Essa Darboe, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Amin Touray and others established the Ubay Ibn Kaab Institute for the Memorization of the Holy Qur’an. Darboe – may God protect him. The writer was one of the first to enrol in this institute, as he came from the countryside of “BOLONG KONO” to Kombo Gunjur to learn. Sheikh Essa – may God protect him – was one of my first Sheikhs in Gunjur.

“In the late twentieth century, specifically in 1996, Sheikh Essa Darboe was appointed Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of Arab-Islamic Education in the Gambia.

“Under Sheikh Essa Darboe, the Secretariat has significantly promoted dual education in Islamic schools in The Gambia. The importance of dual education in the present era cannot be overemphasized. His efforts resulted in the standardization of textbooks in Islamic schools. They improved teachers’ financial situation somewhat, especially teachers, under the secretariat’s sponsorship with the government’s subvention. However, teachers still expect a lot of development and progress in various fields. The Secretariat has made remarkable efforts in promoting Islamic education in public schools, and other things that cannot be mentioned.

“In 2002, Sheikh Essa Darboe obtained a general diploma in Imamate, Da’awah and Public Speaking from the Institute for the Training of Imams and Preachers in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

“His Da’awah efforts are represented by his radio programs, such as the “Islamic Forum” program. Sheikh Sidya Ceesay, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Amin Janneh, may God have mercy on them, and Sheikh Kawsu Fofana took part in the program before going into exile.

“Sheikh Essa Darboe has another radio program on the “JANNEH KOTOO” radio station in Gunjur and the “Hadith Al Islam” program on the new TV station called QTV. These programs benefit listeners in various countries in West Africa. The Sheikh also participates in public lectures in Gunjur and elsewhere, and he is also one of those who step in for Imam Muhammad Al-Amin Touray in the Friday sermon and congregational prayers in the Grand Mosque of Gunjur, as well as the sermon of the two feasts, as well as giving lessons.

“Overall, Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe is a genius intellectual with supernatural intelligence, far-sightedness, and high culture. The newly appointed GSIC President has a keen interest in modern sciences and international languages. He has learned the English language with self-effort and personal desire until he has mastered it, far from formal study. Sheikh Darboe is one of the leading intellectuals in the Gambia. He is one of those who speak more than one of the international languages and has extensive knowledge in project management. The most unmistakable evidence for this is his leadership in running the Solidarity Center for Islamic Studies and the General Secretariat for Islamic Arab Education in the Gambia. It can be said that Sheikh Essa is a pioneer of Islamic education and Arabic writing in the Gambia.”

 

Breaking news: Imams shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ as Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe gets elected new president of Supreme Islamic Council

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Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe has been elected new president of the Supreme Islamic Council.

Imams shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ as Sheikh Darboe is declared winner after polling 89 votes out of the 105 delegates who voted. He replaces Muhammed Lamin Touray.

SIC has been locked in a two-day congress which churned out the head of Tadamun Islamic Institute as the new leader of the country’s Muslims. He swat aside two challenges in Sheikh Muhammed Lamin Kanteh and Sheikh Cherno Darboe by polling 89 votes to Kanteh’s 11 and Darboe sorry five votes. One hundred and five delegates voted in the election.

In a victory speech, Sheikh Essa Darboe who is also the leader of Armaana vowed to unite the country’s Muslims, speaking in both Arabic and English.

He said, in English: “It’s a big pleasure for me to run the council with my team. Thank you very much for that. We know that the candidates are one body.

“Just because we have different intention, that’s why we have three candidates based on the nominations of the people and they all think that the person that they think can run the council is the person that they nominated.

“But that doesn’t mean that we are opposition (antagonists), that doesn’t mean that we are of different views. So Alhamdoullilah we are one, we have one vision, that is to work for the sake of Allah and to unify Muslims of this country. I thank the Almighty Allah and InshaAllah we will do our able best to establish unity as the principles of Supreme Islamic Council.”

Sheikh Darboe replaces longtime president Sheikh Muhammed Lamin Touray. He too is from Gunjur like his predecessor.

Breaking news: Cocaine valued at over 4.5 billion dalasis seized at port as massive manhunt rolled out for Fajara man

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Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia has impounded cocaine worth an eye-watering 4.5 billion dalasis, its biggest ever drug catch of all time.

DLEAG seized 118 bags containing the illicit drug on Thursday January 7.

Two tons, 952kg and 850g of cocaine loaded in 118 bags that were labelled ‘Sal Industrial’ were put in a container numbered SUDU7531754 was sent to The Gambia alongside three other container from Ecuador. The containers were said to be containing 1000 bags of industrial salt each and arrived at the port on December 27, 2020.

The DLEAG said in a statement: “Three of the containers (SUDU 753 1754, TLLU 2135 228 & TCLU 250 5880) originated from GUYAQUIL port (Ecuador) and transported by MAERSK LINE SHIPPING COMPANY. They were transshipped at the port of Algeciras in Spain before proceeding to Banjul, arriving on 01st January 2021.

“The forth container (TGCU 212 7190) also originated from GUYAQUIL port (Ecuador) transported by MSC. It was transshipped at Amtwerp, Belgium, then Las Palmas, Spain and finally arrived at the Banjul ports on 27th December 2020.

“All the four container were shipped by ECU WORLDWIDE ECUADOR SA and consigned to BOLLORE TRANSPORT and LOGISTICS as their local partner. However, an in-house Bill of Laning was issued by ECU WORLDWIDE to the actual consignee (CIRCUIT LONG TRADING CLT (Ltd) with Mr Sherif Njie as the contact person.

“On Monday 4th January 2020, physical search was conducted on container number TGCU 212 7190 but was found to be containing only salt. The search continued on Thursday, 7th January 2021 on the remaining three containers, resulting in the discovery of one hundred and eighteen (118) bags containing cocaine in container number SUDU7531754.

“Initial findings suggest that the containers belong to one BANTA KEITA, holder of a French passport #17CE91360. According to the passport biodata, he was born on 3rd January 1984. He is a resident of Fajara M Section, Kanifing Municipality.

“Mr Sheriff Njie currently in custody helping in the investigation while the hunt for MR BANTA KEITA continue. We strongly advise the general public to vigilant and solicit their cooperation to provide information on whereabout of Mr BANTA KEITA to the nearest DLEAG/Police Station. The public is reminded that offering any type assistance to Mr Keita to escape or harboring him amount to a criminal offence as provided the Drug Control Act, 2003.

“This seizure is yet another confirmation that The Gambia like other West African States continue to be as storage and transit route for cocaine by international organized criminal groups. Certainly, these drugs is not destined for the Gambia, thus not for local consumption.”

On the Candidature of Lawyer Darboe: don’t touch that

When a top media personality recently stated that the 2021 Presidential election was going to be a two-horse race between NPP and UDP, she ruffled many thin feathers. But the fact is that she simply stated the raw, solid and incontrovertible truth.

Therefore the December 4, 2021 election is essentially a contest between the incumbent-yet-neophyte National Peoples Party (NPP) and the resilient and battle-rested United Democratic Party (UDP).

Our constitutional combat has been fought and settled. The 2020 draft may not be clinically dead but its situation in coma seems irreversible in the immediate term. Having predicted a brexit-like situation for our constitution-building process, I watched the debate as a spectator and I do respect the views of both the protagonists and opponents of the draft. That is democracy, it does not always give us our perceived best outcomes; and that is why my good friend and erudite Kiangka, Foday Samanteh, says that democracy is messy. 

However, what I detest and decry is the cowardly tricks used by the current executive to kill a draft that they themselves championed at the beginning; and then to now start some malicious mediation efforts purportedly aimed at reviving it. It is my view that President Barrow should have come out plain and state his opposition to,  and planned abortion of, his own D116 million baby. We will surely need more than mere good luck to revive our ailing draft.

Therefore it is clear that we are going to be guided by the 1997 constitution as we head for the 2021 election; this is President Barrow’s preferred tool to rule us for now. 

Like many other Gambians, I will do everything within my means to fight against any envisaged constitutional shenanigans by the current government geared toward using clauses of that 1997 constitution which were inserted by the previous administration purposely to deprive innocent people, who spent their whole lives trying to bring in change, of their rights to contest elections at the highest level.

And thus I warn President Barrow and his team to never dream of attempting to block the nomination of Lawyer Darboe as Presidential candidate in December. Any such attempt will surely end in failure but the collateral damage may be too costly for our nation in transition. 

As for those who criticise the UDP’s choice of candidate based on age. My question is: why do you gloss over the age factor as you celebrate the election of 78–year-old Joe Biden in the country you all revere as the Mecca of modern democracy?

Among our critics is a group that does not belong to UDP; neither do they wish us well. Yet they have the audacity to question the wisdom of choosing Lawyer Ousainou Darboe as our Presidential candidate. Our potential detractors now come up with the fatuous argument that they would vote for UDP only if another candidate is chosen, saying “Darboe is the road block”. My response to them would be the Mandingka proverb “wandi konobai yeh e juwo busi” (why should someone else’s diarrhea bruise your anus!)

We know that the candidature of Lawyer Darboe is our best option as a party and we are not oblivious of the downside of such a choice as well. Yet are aware of the fact that the choice of a candidate for any party would come with  some downsides. At UDP we are blessed with that realization but we are also emboldened to work hard to mitigate that slight challenge. 

What we will never do as a party is to fall victim and be left bereft of the wisdom of the eagle. The eagle knows that the thrust of the opposing wind is a challenge yet the eagle will not shun that wind because it gives it the indispensable thrust against which it’s flight to the skies becomes possible. With that perseverance of the royal bird, we are not bothered about their perceived storms, because that is what we shall need to soar to the heavens. 

Lawyer Darboe is the indisputable choice of the real people who mater for the UDP: the ones that will vote for our party. And any democratic process of selecting a Presidential candidate for the UDP will end up with only one outcome: Darboe. He is the most loved and most trusted person in that party right now. Any other person enjoying popularity in that party is just riding the winds of the benevolent wings of Lawyer Darboe. 

Adama Barrow is sure to be the unchallenged Presidential candidate of the NPP, to be announced during their planned January 30, congress. The person he is going to face in the ballot arena shall be the UDP’s already declared candidate, His Excellency, the Honourable Alhagie Ousainou Darboe. 

Therefore Gambians will be left to choose between a highly qualified intellectual giant and thoroughbred legal luminary, and a mediocre former rent collector with questionable high school credentials. The verdict, come December 5 (the morning after) will be a judgment about the sense of judgment of The Gambian people and which direction this country actually wants to take.

I test my case. God bless The Gambia. 

Momodou Sabally

Breaking News: IEC postpones voter registration

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The Independent Electoral Commission has written to political stakeholders informing them it has abandoned its planned voter registration date.

The electoral commission had planned to commence registering voters for a key presidential election later this year on 14 January.

But in a letter written to political parties seen by The Fatu Network, the IEC advanced ‘logistical challenges beyond our control’ as its reason for abandoning the exercise ‘until further notice’.

The IEC communication director Joe Colley confirmed the development and said a new date will now be announced.

 

Wasting D116 Million Must Not Go In Vain!

It was The Gambia Government that initiated and drafted a bill and passed by the National Assembly to create the Constitutional Review Commission. The CRC was mandated to write a new constitution after consulting the people. They did a wonderful job to produce a very good draft for the country. After two years and spending over D116 million on the exercise, where is the fruit?

Both the Executive and the Legislature are expected to support this project and ensure that public resources produce fruits. They were expected to protect the national interest by making sure there is value for money. They were not expected to waste public wealth for any reason.

Yet that is what the Executive and the Legislature did by failing to support the constitution building process. NAMs were expected to carry forward the final draft constitution to a referendum even if they were to review it first.

But to fail to review altogether and then to go ahead to kill it prematurely is indeed the grossest act of unpatriotism, irresponsibility and official misconduct that is enough for impeachment and recall!

As it stands today, the country invested 2 years and 116 million dalasi on a project only for a few people to throw it away. By wasting away the people’s money, they also damaged the soul and the future of this country beyond imagination.

This unconscionable act of irresponsibility must be considered a high crime against the nation for which there must be accountability. No Gambian, regardless of your status has the right or authority to waste even D1 of public money just like that.

The minimum NAMs could do was to reflect their own opinions on the draft and then let citizens to vote on it in a referendum. But to flatly refuse to consider the document at all and then go ahead to smack it to death, is indeed a clear and direct insult to the people of The Gambia that they represent! It indicates that they do not care about the people and the money, time, effort and energy spent on this document.

Therefore citizens must demand accountability for those who are responsible for such wastage of public money, time and effort! The people responsible must be condemned for committing economic crimes and damaging national interest. Such persons must not hold public office given their audacity to throw away the resources and destiny of the Republic down the drain!

The President and the 23 NAMs who voted against the final draft constitution must be held accountable. They have betrayed the people’s trust. They have violated Section 112 of the Constitution which requires NAMs to always discharge their functions only in the national interest and guided by nothing other than their conscience and the national interest. It is obvious that conscience is always about the truth, justice, right, good and not the opposite! But they decided to ignore and suppress the conscience.

Wasting D116 million of the people is neither conscience nor national interest. It is an act of treachery and calumny. Those responsible must be made to pay for it!

For The Gambia Our Homeland

 

Justice ministry praises outgoing Solicitor General for brilliant service

By Sainey MK Marenah

Few have carved an incredibly outstanding pedigree of consistency and professional diligence like the outgoing solicitor general. Mr Cherno Marenah brought both discipline and quality to the attorney generals chamber’s and Justice department where he served for an impeccable 17 year’s.

That’s nearly two decades of productive work that saw the former Solicitor General and legal Secretary serve under 10 Justice Ministers and attorney general’s of the Gambia.

Marenah is widely celebrated for rendering tremendous contributions to the development of MOJ whose core staff he helped to build and mould to replace the large numbers of expatriate technical teams engaged by development partners to support the country’s legal and Justice delivery system.

Saturday’s farewell reception at the Sir Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre was meant to both honor and pay recognition to a man unanimously hailed as hardworking, principled and a very disciplined professional.

Under his stint lots of development shaping the current transitional justice process took place and he has been credited for being particularly instrumental in setting foundation’s for the success of these important legal initiatives.

The incoming SG, Hussein Thomas also commended Mr. Marenah for his contribution towards the development of the justice ministry.

Various speakers including Supreme Court Judge, Awa Bah, current and former staff of MOJ all hailed Mr. Marenah for guiding them during their time at the MOJ.

Mr Marenah was especially involved in supporting the process of indigenization and mentoring driven to Gambianize the Justice department, which now boasts of a large and strongly capacitated cohort of young legal luminaries who graduated from the University of the Gambia.

The outgoing SG leaves behind a great and shining legacy of diligence that has hugely boosted the legal system and dispensation of Justice in the Gambia.

The reception was graced by Justice Ministry Staff, friends and family of Mr. Marenah among a host of other invited guests.

Mr. Marenah who was visibly pleased with the honor and recognition thanked his colleagues for the support he received during his time at the justice ministry. And in keeping with his dedication to team effort and collaboration, the soft spoken and affable Mr. Marenah attributed his success to the collective community of staff at the Justice ministry and attorney general’s chambers.

 

 

Internet shutdown! National Assembly must act

By Madi Jobarteh

I hope the National Assembly will summon the relevant authorities to a public hearing to question them why this internet shutdown happened across the country for so many hours?

The internet is a national security issue. On it depends our defense, security, economy, education, health, services, businesses and life in every sense of the word! Hence anything affecting the internet is a national security matter!

The National Assembly should call the relevant public officials to ask them why this happened and who or what was responsible and how to avoid it again, not to mention what was the extent of threats to our national defense and security and cost to the economy. For that matter military and security chiefs should also be called to determine how such a situation impacts on our defense and security!

It is high time Gambians, more so State institutions stop taking things for granted and assume that things just happen by some divine making or beyond our control. Internet shutdown is not a natural occurrence but a human-made occurrence hence it must be investigated. But even where things happen by nature, it is now obvious that human activity indeed triggers natural occurrences such as climate change. Above all, serious governments put in place mechanisms to address the impact of these natural occurrences.

In other words, in the management of the State there is no space for fatalism, predestination, assumptions and negligence! Anything that happens has a reason and a purpose and therefore deserve to be confronted!

By conducting a public hearing, the National Assembly would have demonstrated incredible leadership to address this occurrences. This is called being proactive and effective. It is such action by NAMs that puts the Executive on its toes and to actively recognize the power of the parliament. It also serves to make citizens have greater trust and confidence in the National Assembly.

The National Assembly can be described, in a simplified way as the mother and father of The Gambia. This means the presence of good or bad governance in the Gambia rests on the National Assembly. The prosperity or the poverty of The Gambia lies squarely in the hands of the National Assembly. What position the National Assembly takes determines the kind of Executive the country will have.

Hence nothing is beyond the scope or interest or attention or responsibility of the National Assembly as long as it happens within the territory of The Gambia or to Gambians anywhere on the globe! The National Assembly is not secondary to any person, authority or organ in The Gambia. The National Assembly does not require the permission of anybody to do its job.

I therefore call on the Speaker and each and every NAM to cause a public hearing on the nationwide internet shutdown experienced within the past 24 hours! We need your leadership.

For The Gambia Our Homeland

Darboe’s New Year speech full text

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Barrow’s New Year speech full text

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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.

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