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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 26 Nov 2016 : 21:36:56
ADDRESS TO THE NATION ADAMA BARROW
Foroyaa: November 26, 2016
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/13074
 My Fellow Gambians, I wish to convey to you on this historic day that my Candidature is a symbol of National Unity and I intend to work, hand in hand, with the Coalition partners to unify a divided nation.
There is no need for tension to build up between tribal and religious groups. We are all equal in citizenship. Each has one vote.
The Coalition is established to create One Nation and One People. This is why I agreed to resign from my party and stand as a transitional president in order to put aside all party , tribal, religious, gender and other differences so that all Gambians could forget what divided us in the past and work to build a new country that would guarantee freedom and prosperity to all.
The position of President is not an ordinary one. I am seeking it to make a difference and give Gambia a new start so that the potential of the country and its citizens would be developed to the fullest.
There is need for change in order to promote and consolidate Democracy, Rule of Law, Good Governance and respect for the Human Rights of our people.
This could only come by putting an end to impunity and self perpetuating rule characterised by one round of voting, absence of two term limit, detention without trials, disappearance without trace and contempt for the order of courts aimed at protecting the rights of citizens.
When the state fails to be a protector of its citizens the Citizens reserve the right to change the executive and put into office an executive that is true to its Oath of Office.
I will be true to my Oath of Office, if elected President. I will put a Coalition Government of National Unity in place, to last for three years, that would respect, uphold and defend the constitution, so that no one would be arrested without due process, detained without
trial, disappear without trace or held after beng released by court order.
Under our transitional Government the disciplined forces will display professionalism and would not be obliged to be loyal to any ruling party but would be loyal to the Republic and the Citizenry. The Civil service would be Independent and appointments to public office would be based on merit. Courts will be Impartial and Independent. I will not interfere with the Judiciary or the National Assembly. The Media will be free to disseminate divergent views and dissenting opinion. Civil society will be free to hold the Government accountable to the Public.
There will be accountability and transparency in managing the affairs of the country.
To ensure National reconciliation I will grant General Amnesty to all prisoners associated with dissent or civil disobedience as reaction to excesses in administration.
Truth and reconciliation will be initiated to amend past injustices. The Coalition Government will appoint competent persons to work in consultation with the Law Reform Commission to provide guidance on Constitutional and Electoral reforms so that the sovereign Gambian citizen would enjoy freedom.
The Coalition Government would guarantee free and compulsory education at the Basic level and make education accessible and affordable at higher levels of the educational ladder.
Primary Health care will be made accessible and affordable at the Village level.
Self reliance in food production shall be a priority and support services in agriculture will be given priority. Industrial Growth would be enhanced and The Service sector given added support to maintain its strong growth potential.
The Coalition Government would improve infrastructure and endeavour to make utilities such as electricity and water supply accessible and affordable. Technology energy generation and mining will become major industrial activities.
I wish to assure you in three years, the Coalition Government will build a solid foundation to enable any subsequent government to have a new start.
We have put all our differences aside in the supreme interest of the people to preserve the principle of one Gambia One Nation. Forward Ever!! Backward Never!
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| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Momodou |
Posted - 29 Nov 2016 : 14:33:30
Use your votes to make a change, says Barrow
By Kaddijatou Jawo
The Point: Tuesday, November 29, 2016
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/use-your-votes-to-make-a-change-says-barrow
Coalition standard bearer Adama Barrow has called on Gambians across the country to use their votes to redeem themselves and The Gambia from “oppression and dictatorship”, to which they have been subjected for 22 years.
Barrow made this remark in Basori Kombo East, Brufut and Jambur at the weekend, after being welcomed to the Kombos, from his 8-day tour in the provincial areas, by thousands of people who took to the streets on Friday to rally behind and demonstrate their support for the Coalition.
Adama Barrow told the cheering crowds that the leadership of the current government had been exercising its will on the people, and cared less about their feelings and the oppression they faced.
“We have all seen what has been happening to us for the last 22 years, and these included suffering, poverty, forced disappearance and torture; and we had nothing to do about it, because you are scared of being targeted or sent to exile. Now is the time for us to end all these by using our votes to express our anger, and say ‘enough is enough’ and it is us who gave him power, but if he is abusing it, we should take it back to free ourselves from hell.”
Barrow added that “it is now time for the Gambian people to fight against dictatorship in the country by using your votes; nothing else, no violence, no fighting, just to vote for the coalition: ‘one Gambia one people’, and experience again what the good life is.”
Halifa Sallah, spokesperson of the coalition, told the cheering crowd that the only way they could end their sufferings is by using their votes to make a change, and that if they failed to do so, it means they would keep on suffering until they die.
Folonko Bojang, a resident of Kombo Jambur, in his message to the jubilant crowd of people, said that since 1994 “the country had been going backwards instead of forward, all because of bad governance”.
“We have suffered enough because we are farmers and very poor, but we would not like our children to be poor also and experience such ordeals as us in their lives. So the best thing to do is to have a change of government and usher in a government of the people, that listens to and works with the people to ensure everybody contributes their ideas, skills and knowledge in making The Gambia a great nation.
“We don’t want a situation where the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer; so vote for the coalition, come December 1.”
Dr Isatou Touray, another member of the coalition, said the Gambian women in the past 22years have been used to vote in the government of the day, and not to really empower themselves. She made this remark at a rally in Kombo Farato on Sunday.
She mentioned how female gardeners have been struggling to sell their produce in stark competition with what is being produced by the country’s leader, among other actions that are meant at keeping them only as voters and not really to change their economic, social and political status.
“Now it is time for us the women to fight for ourselves, just by using our votes and putting it in the right place; that is, the coalition, which will make women their first priority, because we are the mothers, sisters and wives and in every society women are always important.”
Mam Ceesay, a coalition supporter, in her remarks, told her fellow women that every five years they are told the same thing: that “if you vote for us we will do this and that”, and they would vote. But over the years they had not realised any real change in their socio-economic condition.
“Enough is enough! We women have suffered enough; therefore, we will now change the way we do things by voting for the coalition, under ‘one people one voice’, come December 1,” she said.
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