The last time I checked, the Barrow led administration is a transitional government which main preoccupation is to make sure good institutions; that will address the rules and norms that will shape the public sector for a better Gambia, are created. It is on record that citizens were given bogus promises, including but not limited to, the reduction of rice from the current price to an affordable D500, increase of salaries, procession of jobs for young people, better health care among many others. Surprisingly enough, implementing these ambitious promises appears too farfetched.
The Gambia’s Public institutions such as the Police, Military and the Judiciary, that all served as stooges under Jammeh’s 22 years brutal rule, by oppressing their own people, should be rigorously reformed by the Barrow led administration, in order to rid the ‘bad cows’ off the system and bring about democracy and good governance, as we transit to democracy. Institutional reform as component of transitional justice is vigorous, it aims at acknowledging victims as citizens and holders of rights and to build trust between all citizens and their public institutions.
Institutional reform again, is not only a process of reviewing and restructuring state institutions so they respect human rights, it also preserve the rule of law and ensure, politicians especially, are accountable to their constituents. By incorporating a transitional justice element in our democratic transition, reform efforts can both provide accountability for individual perpetrators and disable the structures that allowed usurpation of power. (Phochan, 2015)
Furthermore, the University of The Gambia and the Gambia College, are in urgent need of learning materials. The lecture rooms in which lecturers and the students use, are not very conducive, they find it difficult to cope with the situation. However, if we want to have better educational system where students learn to develop themselves and strive hard to learn the values of life, we must focus our energy and resources on the university where it all began.
It is evident that; events of theft are on the rise in the new Gambia. Thieves get chances of stealing in the darkness and on a broad daylight, in one word, indiscriminately, because of the power shortage by NAWEC well as the fragile security situation. So brought about that kind of fear among people in The Gambia. I remember the president promised us of tightened security. Barely a month on, all I hear is one kind of killing, robbery and rape or the other.
The Gambia Health Sector is in serious crisis as a result of inadequate medical facilities and human resources. The mere fact that; the health care system is based on donor funds, has made people dying unnecessarily, whenever donor funds are unavailable when they are needed the most.
Of recent, President Barrow announced in his meet the People tour, that his administration will build a bridge across the mouth of the River Gambia between Banjul and Barra. Bridges, have no doubt proven themselves to be very useful to mankind.
However, there are many disadvantages to bridges, especially on our environment. Besides, the pollution of our waters by chemical waste from vehicles can contaminate the water via precipitation. The construction of bridges alone, can drastically change the environment and impose serious health issues.
Furthermore, it is unrealistic and a misplaced priority to come up with the idea of constructing a bridge in the face of mounting challenges that continue to stall our growth and national development. The President is fully aware of these and knows that, they actually require swift attention than bridge he is talking about.
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Blogger/Political Activist
