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Momodou
Denmark
11739 Posts |
 Posted - 03 May 2010 : 18:04:59
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Dailynews Editorial: We can Borrow a Leaf from British Politics
30-04-2010
Yes we are an independent state and have since been doing our own things in our style and fashion but there should be nothing stopping us from borrowing good things from others. For more than forty years now, we have been running our own elections our own way and style, but over the years governments, be it the past or the current, did work on improving our systems.
The Gambian way of conducting elections is to some extent rated as a very transparent one, with very little room for manipulations. This is a fact to some degree. This paper is always of the view that elections are not only about casting ballots and counting them. Yes that is a very integral part of the whole process, but there is much more to that.
For us registration of voters and the campaigns are where a lot of malpractices are done. If there are any sections to be improved upon these are the two most important areas to be looked into. If wrong the people are registered, meaning non-Gambians, under aged or double registration one therefore cannot envisage a free and fair election.
The 2011 elections are just under a year our electoral body, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and government are mute about the registration of thousands of voters who are expected to take part in take part in the 2011 elections. The million dalasi question is, how feasible is this very important part of the process? Are we not going to be rushed into the exercise if the biometric voters’ cards being spoken of are introduced? Where do we stand as not much is heard of these cards? To have a transparent and fair registration of eligible Gambian voters, such an exercise should not be rushed. What may happen is to want to register hundreds f thousands over a very short period, thereby leaving us with the possibility of electoral fraud.
Campaigning for the various political offices is where we would like us to borrow a leaf from the British politics. As the various political parties and leaders in Britain are vying for leadership, the campaign is going very smoothly. There are no cases of opposition politicians harassed, nor are there any arrests of opposition politicians. There is what one can describe as politics of issues and not politics of personalities.
This is a clearly manifestation of their maturity and professionalism. A platform is created where the three main political leaders face the electorate at various places to explain their policies, go into their manifestos and take questions from the electorate. What makes it even more interesting is the fact that all the three politicians of different parties including the incumbent PM Gordon Brown meet and take on each other in the presence of their different supporters under one roof. No clashes between supporters or the politicians themselves. At the end exchange of handshakes characterizes the events. Of course there are series of clashes of ideas, and policies. But it is then left to voters to give a final verdict.
That is where we need to borrow a leaf from the British politics. If we here (Gambia) can get President Jammeh defend his policies on the same political platform with his opponents like Lawyer Ousainou Darboe of the UDP, Halifa Sallah of NADD, Hamat Bah of the NRP, and Omar Jallow of the PPP, that will be wonderful. Then voters will know who to vote for, and the whole exercise is void of voter inducement. Giving handsome hand outs all contribute to corrupting voters, especial in a country where there is abject poverty.
If such a healthy debate is possible, then we can say yes we have reached a high level of political maturity. Gambian voters now need politics of issues. Politicians should tell us what they have in store for the country. Not mere spoken words but in written form e.g. political manifestos, so that when they come to power based on their manifestos they could be judge by those manifestos.
Gone should be the days when politicians can just come with empty promises and get away with it like that. The electorate should now be ready to take up issues with elected officials.
So politics of issues and tolerance are what we need to borrow from the British politicians. Those holding political office should response to issues raised by their opponents in a tolerant manner. The use of force within their means should be out. The harassment and intimidation should be a thing of the past. No militants of any political party should go round and about intimidating people.
If any such activities are carried out the government should quickly step in and put in place remedial measures as the state is doing in the fight against corruption. The perpetrators of f such unacceptable behaviors should be immediately brought to book.
Source: Dailynews
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