By Lamin Njie
Former special adviser to President Adama Barrow Mai Ahmad Fatty has called on the Gambian leader to exhibit decisive leadership over the coronavirus crisis that is threatening to run the whole world over.
Mr Fatty spent most of last year advising President Barrow before leaving the role last October.
On Tuesday, the former interior minister returned with some pieces of advice to the president over coronavirus.
He wrote on his official Facebook page, at times directly addressing the president: “I commend the Government for the initiatives thus far. Yet we are not doing enough. President Barrow, work with the National Assembly and declare a State of Emergency without delay. Impose a sensible curfew regime with other effective measures to enforce new public health directives. Deploy microscopic monitoring of the 500 million Dalasi emergency fund, ensuring that monies are being prudently spent to curb the novel corona virus pandemic.
“Reach out to businesses and NGOs for partnership and exploit our international goodwill to secure urgent help for our country. Engage and involve municipal councils, as veritable partners in grass-roots community containment and prevention measures. Put politics aside. Lives are at stake.
“Hospitals, clinics and healthcare workers are still poorly equipped. Communities are still without auxiliary support. The peril intensifies with each passing day. The fact that we do not know how and where the first corona casualty contracted the virus is dangerously troubling. We do not know how many people may have been infected by him with the multiplier effect.
“There could be more infections out there. We shouldn’t wait for more fatalities. With the typical nature of Gambian society, we need more measured response and utter decisiveness. This is a time for bold leadership. Act Mr. President. Declare a State of Emergency. Impose a sensible curfew that is both realistic and enforceable. This is a time when citizens must be protected against themselves.”
