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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 20:06:12
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ELECTION COUNTDOWM: Gambians Clamour for Changes in the Electoral System
By D.A Jawo
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
As Gambians gear up for the presidential elections in about three months’ time and the National Assembly elections in January, no one expects any dramatic changes to the country’s electoral system in the run-up to the elections or even any time in the foreseeable future.
But it is certainly one of the things, among several other changes that the Gambian opposition and indeed most Gambians are clamouring for, particularly with regards to the National Assembly elections.
The Gambia at present has the ‘first past the post’ electoral system in which a candidate can still win elections with less than 50 per cent of the vote, thus representing his or her constituency with a minority of the vote.
Also, a party can obtain a large portion of the votes cast and still get a disproportionate number of seats in parliament.
Therefore, this system is anything but democratic and fair and it is therefore quite imperative that we adopt a much fairer system of elections which gives more value to the votes cast by the electorate.
For instance, in the National Assembly elections in January 2007, the opposition together polled about 40 per cent of the popular vote, and yet, they only managed to get five seats out of the 48 elective seats of the National Assembly, which is less than 10 per cent.
Therefore, if there had been proportional representation in place, there would have been much more opposition seats in the National Assembly.
Another aspect which makes the Gambia’s electoral system quite archaic is no doubt the use of marbles. While we can understand the rationale for using those marbles instead of ballot papers at the very beginning of the electoral process, because of the extremely low literacy rate of the electorate as well as the fact that the people were not familiar with elections, but such a justification no longer holds water.
Apart from the dramatic increase in the literacy rate, Gambian voters are now quite familiar with elections and as such, there is no justification for continuing to hang on to such an old-fashioned system of voting, which is much more prone to abuse than any system being used anywhere else.
If countries with far lower literacy rates like Guinea Bissau, for instance, can successfully adopt the ballot paper system and hold far much freer and fairer elections than the Gambia, then it is hard to see why this country should still hang on to such an archaic system.
However, it appears that the present system is serving the APRC very well and as such; the regime is very unlikely to ever want to see it changed. Those in power seem to be more concerned about maintaining their advantageous position than putting in place a fairer system of elections. Of course, the very fact that they repealed the constitutional clause which called for a second round of voting in the presidential elections if any candidate fails to get more than 50 per cent in the first round was no doubt part of their scheme to consolidate their grip on power at whatever cost.
Therefore, while all those interested in free and fair elections are clamouring for change in the electoral system, but it is foolhardy for anyone to expect that this regime will ever contemplate such changes when the status quo seems to be serving them perfectly well.
It is a similar case with the persistent failure to extend the franchise to Gambians in the Diaspora, despite overwhelming clamour for it. It is indeed quite hard to imagine any justification why Gambians abroad could still not vote when countries with weaker economies such as Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry, as well as other less endowed countries, can extend the vote to their citizens all over the world.
Of course, it is quite obvious that such a failure to extend the vote to Gambians in the Diaspora is more political than economic. It is a well known fact that the regime is convinced that a majority of Gambians in the Diaspora would not vote for the APRC and therefore, with the iron-grip control that President Jammeh seems to have on the IEC, it is hard to imagine the IEC ever mustering the courage to implement such a wish of so many Gambians when they know quite well that President Jammeh is not in favour of it.
It is indeed quite unfair to deny the vote to such an economically important group like Gambians in the Diaspora. It is a well known fact that they contribute quite significantly to national development through their remittances and other financial contributions.
Therefore, it is unfair for them to make such significant contributions to the development of the nation and yet they are denied the opportunity to decide how they nation is governed.
ENDS
Source: Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 13:13:35
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What is happening in Gambia now ? apart from the cost of 3 small kobo being D25 ,The Daily news is still publishing, no politicos on bantaba in cyberspace, no turk, no Moe, very odd.  |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 24 Aug 2011 13:14:49 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 13:30:08
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And now an "Editorial" comment from the D.O.
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/you-are-welcome-1
You are welcome
Africa » Gambia
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
As the 2011 political race draws near, the conduct of Gambians show that they are once more ready to endorse President Jammeh and the APRC at the polls. This is due to the fact that Gambians are aware that it is the APRC that shaped a new beginning in the country’s struggle for self-determination, progress, peace and prosperity.
It is the APRC that gave birth to a new Gambia, a Gambia on the path of development because it provided and continues to provide the nation with high class roads, good electricity and water supply, modern hospitals, accessible and quality education and a host of other developments. Besides, ever since the birth of a new Gambia, the APRC and the leadership have advanced greatly in fulfilling the needs and aspirations of the people.
The party is also creating avenues that permit the empowerment of the citizenry in all aspects, hence giving Gambians every reason to rally behind the party. Already, the APRC has won all the by-elections held so far.
We have also witnessed high-profile defections from the opposition camp to the ruling party. Mass political rallies are also being organised by the people in support of the APRC to show to President Jammeh that with or without him campaigning, he has a clean sheet of record that is enough to guarantee him victory come November 24th.
It is therefore fundamental to echo the call made by Ousman Rambo Jatta, the councilor of old Bakau Ward, who himself was an opposition heavyweight for remnants of the opposition to join the party of progress and development. Rambo, who joined the APRC after realising that he could no longer afford to pay a blind eye to the developments brought about by President Jammeh made no mistake in calling the few who up to this day are in the opposition to wake up from their slumber and move forward with the train of victory and development.
It cannot be denied that Gambians have set the grounds and a landslide victory for the APRC in the forthcoming polls is unquestionable. It is evident that on November 24th, the whole country would rise with one voice and prove once more our commitment to the ideology of national reorientation and reconstruction as well as demonstrate our total readiness to stay on the path of progress, peace and prosperity. What is however important is as Rambo rightly stated; remnants of the opposition should come aboard so that collectively we can accomplish our dear Gambia.
Author: Daily Observer |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 13:40:05
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TOUBAB LEAVE IT TO US TO FIX THE POLITICAL MESS AS WE (THE "CHALOS"), THE ARM CHAIR POLITICIANS, THE LOUD MOUTHS AT FREEDOM RADIO AND MATHEW K. JALLOW OVER-RULING ON GAMBIAN POLITICS AND FEW HOLDING OTHERS TO RANSOM; STOCK IN "EITHER MY WAY OR NO WAY"; WHILST JAMMEH CONTINUE TO CONSOLIDATE HIMSELF IN POWER WITH ARROGANCE |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 17:43:22
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| Only Gambians can salvage themselves from the sackles of tyrany. When the running get tough they would free themselves. We are see even those without eyes are feeling the breeze airwind blowing heahily. |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 18:39:54
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Kobo, of course its up to Gambians to "FIX THE POLITICAL MESS" ,
"EITHER MY WAY OR NO WAY" have you detected any movement to remedy defragmentation ?
The absent turk in his more lucid moments amoungst the sweepings from the floor that he usually spouts made what |I consider to be a relevent observation:
"It is the social, economic and cultural realities are the problem. And the solution is to improve 'wealth' and 'development'. I do not believe in democratic/political process we understand in western world would work for Gambia under today's circumstances. Majority of Gambians support Jammeh, because they don't know any better. They associate him with themselves better than for example Halifa Sallah who is more intellectual, superior in terms of political skills, knowledge. But who cares, they see Jammeh as part of their own. Even the languga Jammeh is using. To understand Halifa Sallah using all the big words, no one has clue when he talks about 'ideology'. But they understand Jammeh. "
(http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11292 )
quote:
Originally posted by kobo
TOUBAB LEAVE IT TO US TO FIX THE POLITICAL MESS AS WE (THE "CHALOS"), THE ARM CHAIR POLITICIANS, THE LOUD MOUTHS AT FREEDOM RADIO AND MATHEW K. JALLOW OVER-RULING ON GAMBIAN POLITICS AND FEW HOLDING OTHERS TO RANSOM; STOCK IN "EITHER MY WAY OR NO WAY"; WHILST JAMMEH CONTINUE TO CONSOLIDATE HIMSELF IN POWER WITH ARROGANCE
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 24 Aug 2011 18:49:01 |
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