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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 20:02:16
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This quotation in 1965, has made me change my mind. Sheriff is a democrat.
" I personally am interested in achieving a true democracy here, and that cannot be achieved without the two-party system. But i'm not at all happy with the way the UP carries on. Since they lost at the polls it seems they are not very interested in politics an more(refering to UP partty). They aren't in the house half the time. I hope they will soon fall on their feet again, and play the role of an opposing party, which is to criticize the Government policy and so on"
Sheriff was the youngest cabinet memeber in 1965 being only 28 years old whilst in the house MC Cham was the youngest at 27.
For sheriff to say these statements makes him open to criticism at a time when democracy and independence was just taking serious ground.
I now know that not all the chiefs he removed supported the oposition. Some were PPP memebers. " The seyfo....(name witheld) was loyal supporter of the Government, but he accepted bribes. He suppressed people in ways that our grandfathers did, and engaged in fraudulent practices. The Prime Minister and i had several complaints about him. The people are extremely happy that these steps have been taken".
Part of Sheriff's speech on Radio gambia giving reason for the removal of the chiefs goes "... when acting impersonally and in harmony with government policies, and providing fair and proper administration, they(chiefs) constitute a very valuable adjunct to the general peaceful life and well-being of the people in the provinces".
Sheriff further said that " in this country, the Governmemnt and party are two different things. We are not asking the chiefs to support the Party (PPP) but we INSIST that they support and carry out the policies of the government...."
In 1965, i am not sure how many Gambians would know the difference between a government and Party. Certainly even today, this same old problem is leading to the sacking of many civil servants. As i write this posting, Gambians are asked to not differentiate between the Party and Government otherwise they are saboteurs. Sadly the Party is the same as the Government today. Sheriff was right. The Party and Government are two different things. It reinforces the democratic ideals of the citizens rights to belong to a party of their choice and which guarantees multiparty democracy.
Whilst in 1965, it was ok to belong to a different party but support government policy, in 2006, its not ok to belong to a different party other than the ruling party. Sadly Gambians are all the more confused as to what their leaders really want.
Partly i think sheriff's troubles were he came ahead of his time on the Gambian political landscape. If he were a young man in 2006, he would be more relevant.
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Sanusi
70 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 20:07:24
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Kons
Which sherrif are you referring?? Sherriff Dibba or Sherriff Saikuba Sisay. If its Sherriff Dibba, then I am not surprised. I have read similar statements in which Sherrif exposed his undemocratic credentials.
Awaiting your response.
Sanusi |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 20:10:36
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Its Sheriff Dibba.
But sanussi, this speech really enforces democarcy where citizens can belong different parties but if they work for government must support government policies. They have a contractual obligation with the state to work and in return be paid salary.
The problem is when state employees cannot belong to a diffrent party.
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Sanusi
70 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 20:20:24
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Kons
I am not surprise with the statement. Those who were closed to PS Njie will tell you that S.M Dibba's behaviour in parliament contributed PS Njie abdicating from parliamentary politics as MP for Banjul North.
Just ask OAJallow, he will tell you about Sherrif daft proposal for a one party state in 1972. Take a look at the state of his party, if this man was a democrat then surely the party would have still be a vibrant force within the opposition. Instead, NCP is nothing else other than a ONE-MAN movement.
Sanusi |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 20:31:09
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Well you have some points. I guess i am alll choked up.
Wel i have an interesting quotation from PS Njie which scares me a lot. I will it leave to myself for now. Those statements are frightening especially from a one time Chief Minister. He was aked his opinion about Sheriff Dibba, Sheriff Ceesay and Jawara. Somethings are better left alone. However when the ight time comes up, i will let it out of the bag. For now, it will remain where it is.
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Sanusi
70 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 20:35:29
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Kons
We are having a very fruitful discussion about our First Republican Politicans. Don't spoil the show, please tell what PS Njie's opinion about Sherriff Dibba, Sherriff Sisay and Jawara.
Awaiting your response
Sanusi |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 20:46:43
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PS Njie was a lawyer. Did you know that he was disbarred by the colonial government. Did you know why.
Do you know why Gambia has no bankruptcy legislation even though this was pushed into the house for many years after independence in 1965. That law if passed would have led to many MPs in eligible to be representatives as per the criteria set for MPs. |
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Sanusi
70 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 20:58:28
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Kons
If you want to know the full reasons why PS Njie's got disbarred, then please read Lord Denning's privy council judgment in the case PS vs the Attorney General of the Gambia. This case was an authority for Constitutional law.
Also, I do know that we had no Bankruptcy Legislation at the time Gambia became independent. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 21:02:28
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I will it here for now. I dont think it was sheriff who was the reason why PS Njie gave up politics. The two were in opposing camps and their ideas never converged and also because UP was mainly based in Banjul.
Rememeber elections were only held in Banjul and the Kombos. The protectorate only became enfranchised after 1961 if my memeory serves me right.
The first party was formed in 1951 by J.C. Fayea lmost 12 years before PPP. Representative Government was only in Banjul. Hence when the protectorate was opened up, and because UP never saw it coming, the Protectorate People's Party was born as a result of the anger of disenfranchisement of the people of the Protectorate. Because there were more peole in the protectorate, UP became gradually irrelevant as it appealed to the colony people rather than the whole country. It was a strategic mistake they never saw coming.
PS Njies father was a successful business man and his father's uncle Semu Joof was the last king of Saloum. This confirms my theory that Banjul is manily populated by people with origins in Saloum, St. Loius and Goree after 1816 and partly during the Colony of Senegambia when the British Governor was based in St. Loius. Banjul was not habited in 1816. Business men from Goree and St. Loius came with Captain Grant in 1816 to populate the town because then St. Loius and Goree were under British rule(Colony oF Senegambia). |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 21:07:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Sanusi
Kons
If you want to know the full reasons why PS Njie's got disbarred, then please read Lord Denning's privy council judgment in the case PS vs the Attorney General of the Gambia. This case was an authority for Constitutional law.
Also, I do know that we had no Bankruptcy Legislation at the time Gambia became independent.
Oh yes. He had no bankruptcy problems. His finances were above board at least from what i know.
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Sanusi
70 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 21:17:03
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Kons
PS Njie's politics was just similar to that of Ghana's JB Danquah-UGCC. Both of them were lawyers and their style of politics was very elitist. Please read more on why Kwame Nkrumah resigned from UGCC to form the CPP, you will see some similarities with how PPP became to power in 1962. By the way, the franchise was introduced to the Provinces in 1962.
UP became irrelevant because the newly formed PPP had a strong political base in the Provinces. Moreover, Jawara's decision to resign from the coalition government of 1962 was the nailing of the coffin for UP. It never recovered from that political embarrassment.
Notwithstanding this, UP secured one political victory by defeating the PPP in the 1966 Referrandum. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 21:51:02
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PPP lost the referendum in 1966 because UP was against a republic. PS Njie said in parliament that the agreement was two years of rule by the monarchy and then discuss a Republic. This division is what delayed true independence for five years and those differences still play in Gambian politics. It was politics of elitism and heritage, which was our biggest enemy.
However, Howsoon Semega Janneh contributed that ".. the government should strike while the iron is hot...". Jawara proposed in parliament that we become a republic on February 18th 1966 when he said " Be it resolved that subject to the outcome of a national referendum, The Gambia should become a Republic within the Commonwealth on the first anniversary of the country's Independence, the 18th February 1966".
This was the time when some politicians carried telephone sets in the interior claiming to be talking to the Queen in London. Although the Queen never visited Gambia until 1961, she described the people as her most loyal and loving servants. Not anywhere in her empire was she loved more than in the Gambia. In fact once a colonial official died in Banjul, nearly 4000 people attended his funeral. This campaign against the Queen, locally called BABA MANSA( a reference to King George), really disturbed Gambians who believed and loved the Queen, having been previously ruled by Kings before colonialism. Today, there are still Gambians named Queen. I know of two Gambian women who are called Queen.
Mr. M.E. Jallow head of GWU led the most serious strike in Gambian history in 1961 for wage increase, which brought Banjul to a halt for more than three days. Troops had to be flown in from Sierra Leone because the Police and Field Force could not stop them. A 25% salary increase the previous year in 1960 was awarded and even after this strike in 1961, they had another 10%. Mr. Jallow is from Georgetown and he led strikes both in 1960 and 1961.
The politicians confused the electorate and the fear of change finally led Gambians to vote no to true independence. No people with their right minds would vote against Independence (Republic). They were fooled to believe that with a Republic, meant disaster. This is what PDOIS calls "POLITKI NAHATEH" (Wollof) which means politics by deceit famously coined by Halifa Sallah.
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mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 22:16:24
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are you talking about that S.D (a wolf in sheep?)
no wonder that his water has still not reached his ankle imaging coming to politics since then and still trying to stand and walk.
quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
This quotation in 1965, has made me change my mind. Sheriff is a democrat.
....
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 22:17:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Sanusi
Kons
PS Njie's politics was just similar to that of Ghana's JB Danquah-UGCC. Both of them were lawyers and their style of politics was very elitist. Please read more on why Kwame Nkrumah resigned from UGCC to form the CPP, you will see some similarities with how PPP became to power in 1962. By the way, the franchise was introduced to the Provinces in 1962.
UP became irrelevant because the newly formed PPP had a strong political base in the Provinces. Moreover, Jawara's decision to resign from the coalition government of 1962 was the nailing of the coffin for UP. It never recovered from that political embarrassment.
Notwithstanding this, UP secured one political victory by defeating the PPP in the 1966 Referrandum.
UGCC(United Gold Coast Convention)
Read the book by Nkrummah : I SPEAK OF FREEDOM" and also " VOICE FROM CONAKRY". |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 22:20:00
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quote:
Originally posted by mbay
are you talking about that S.D (a wolf in sheep?)
no wonder that his water has still not reached his ankle imaging coming to politics since then and still trying to stand and walk.
He is graet national treasure an dpalyed part in what we are as a people. |
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mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2006 : 22:33:47
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go and tell this to a Gambians who was living in Sierra Leon around 1974-76!
quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
He is graet national treasure an dpalyed part in what we are as a people.
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