 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11682 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 17:04:23
|
Agenda 2011 Launched
By: Saikou Jammeh
 Picture: Halifa Sallah
Over a thousand opposition supporters yesterday converged at Latrikunda Yiri nganya Mosque ground for the launching of Agenda 2011, a strategic plan that calls for opposition parties to unite to effect a change of government come next presidential elections, 2011.
The architect of Agenda 2011 is Halifa Sallah, a sociologist cum politician who led the coalition of opposition parties – NADD – in the previous presidential elections held in 2006 amid a failure.
But Halifa argued at the launching that the failure of the coalition and other opposition parties in the last elections does not mean that the ruling party is popular as majority of voters refused to cast their votes.
Noting that since the government has amended the constitution to a ‘first-pass- the post system”, he said it is apt for the opposition to unite to march this pace come next year.
However, he stated clearly that strategies must be worked-out to ensure a fair alliance of opposition parties. It is against this backdrop that Agenda 2011 calls for opposition party leaders and even neutral individuals to go for primaries. Anybody who emerged winner will lead the opposition in 2011 with the support of every opposition party, he told the gathering which comprises mainly of opposition-National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) and PDOIS supporters.
None of the opposition parties has proven to have the potential to win the elections even in an alliance because the huge voter apathy that marred all general elections rendered the fate of the majority of voters uncertain, he said.
This situation, he added, requires the opposition to gauge the fate of the greater suffrage, through a primary.
And if anybody emerged winner of the presidential elections will have to engage in setting the stage for proper democracy for either 2 or 5 years and therefore stand-down “like Nelson Mandela” of South Africa did. He said he has been going round the country introducing to the people Agenda 2011.
National assembly member for Wuli West Sedia Jatta of the opposition-National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) declared NADD’s support to Agenda 2011.
 Picture: Sedia Jatta
The veteran politician expounded on the abnormalities going-on in the ruling party. He lamented on president Jammeh’s lordship tendency of telling Gambians that neither elections nor coup can remove him from office.
He said Gambians sacrifice their resources to pay the public trustees, including the head of state to manage their affairs; hence the people have the absolute right to decide who should rule them.
Source: Dailynews
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 17:13:05
|
| For those you do not have the 6th sense, is there any written document for Halifa's agenda for 2011? |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
 |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11682 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 17:18:24
|
| Turk, just do search for the document and I am sure you would find something. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11682 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 17:20:02
|
Halifa launches Agenda 2011 campaign
Monday, August 02, 2010
Halifa Sallah the Secretary General of the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) has launched the campaign called Agenda 2011.
At a rally held by PDOIS in partnership with NADD last Saturday at Latrikunda Yiringaya in Serekunda where PDOIS held their first rally in the 80's Halifa Sallah said:
"People should be more than this to allow others to treat them like donkeys. You born in pain and poverty, brought up in pain and poverty, live in pain and poverty and die in pain and poverty."
He told his audience that, "in 2006, there were 670,336 registered voters. Out of these, 542, 055 did not vote for the opposition."
According to Halifa, all the votes for the opposition totalled 128,281, and that the winner, Yahya Jammeh, received 264,404 votes in the presidential election.
He said 405,932 did not vote for Jammeh, and as many as 300,000 were confirmed as victims of voter apathy, meaning that they did not participate by casting their vote in the election.
"To find a solution to these problems is why we are assembled here today."
He also said that "we have 180,000 students in the lower basics, 60,000 students in the upper basics and 28,000 students in the senior secondary schools, and a lot more in the tertiary institutions.
"Where are all these people going to work? Because the government is not doing anything about it," he asserted.
Halifa added that The Gambia has reached a point where all must come together to bring about change. He said for these changes to be effected, the people need to understand what politics is all about. This, he stated, is what brings about the Agenda 2011.
"We made efforts to bring all parties together, and NADD was formed, but later failed because the people were not involved. Agenda 2011 has come to involve the people in choosing the flag-bearer of the opposition coalition by going into primaries. This can bring about the change of system and governance, if considered," he stated.
Halifa said he disagrees with those with the notion that changes cannot be done through the ballot box.
"Agenda 2011 says "No!" to those who think that changes cannot be effected through the ballot box. With one presidential candidate for the opposition, chosen by the people through a primary, mandated only for a five-year transition to build the foundation for a democratic fear-free and sovereign Gambia.
"This chosen candidate will rule only for one term, and leave office like Mandela."
The veteran politician said the people do referendums for changes. He said they decide which particular law is to be effected or to be removed, adding that this was why The Gambia held referenda in 1965, 1970 and 1997 respectively.
He expressed his frustration that thus the people will go and vote without even knowing why they are voting, because knowledge was lacking. He said that it was part of the 1997 constitution that, for one to be President, you need to have 51% of the votes registered, but this was changed without involving the people.
For Halifa, it is a joke for one to think that the opposition?s strongholds should not benefit from government projects.
"This statement off 'if you don't vote for me, I will not do any development for you' is only a joke. It can only be possible if oppositions are excempted from tax paying. We all pay our tax and, therefore, all deserve the benefits," he said.
Noting that there is a lot of money in this country, he said it is because of lack of proper management and misplaced priorities that the people are living in abject poverty.
He cited some parastatals in the country like the GPTC, which had 22 busses, but all are destroyed. This, he said, have made many people jobless in this country.
He also cited GSM companies claiming that they earn more than D65 million every week, but were not put to task to create other avenues for Gambians to have jobs without affecting their businesses.
According to Mr. Sallah, money generated outside amounts to D1.7 billion which, he added, can construct 14 bridges like that of JangJangbureh by creating employment for the people.
Hon. Sidia Jatta of NADD speaking at the meeting said "politics is not just about the world, but also about the hereafter."
He said: "One needs to have peace of mind before you can worship. And there will be no peace of mind, if there is no food to eat. If you have no food, you become desperate and a desperate person cannot worship Allah. The solutions of these are found in politics."
Sidia sees it as misleading to say we are waiting for God's time to bring about changes, citing some verses in Suratul Anfal of the holy Quran, to back his point.
He called on all political parties, and the general public, to support the Agenda 2011 for the good of the nation.
Other speakers included Mrs. Amie Sillah Sarr, Mr. Ousman Sillah, and delegates from the different regions.
Source: The Point Online |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 17:40:52
|
Very little change there then,summed up admirably by Halifa Sallah the "sociologist cum politician " to use his own words said "None of the opposition parties has proven to have the potential to win the elections even in an alliance because the huge voter apathy that marred all general elections rendered the fate of the majority of voters uncertain,"
How true.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
terangba
Egypt
225 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 18:01:41
|
| Who will pay for the primaries, is the electoral system in the Gambia set up to accommodate primaries? I think this idea of primaries is the most democratic means of selecting a flag bearer and if feasible all interested parties should agree to through a primary. |
God gave men dominion over the beasts and not over his fellow men unless they submit of their own free will. - Napoleon |
|
|
|
turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 19:17:14
|
Wow, this Halifa dude has lots of numbers. That is good, at least he is thinking and trying to translate and formulate the numbers, facts to politics rather than the rhetoric. He also talking about socio-economic issues.
Terangba
So true. The primary is a must to involve the people into political process. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2010 : 09:26:43
|
Turk,only words again,"The primary is a must to involve the people into political process." true as you say, BUT as terangba points out "Who will pay for the primaries, is the electoral system in the Gambia set up to accommodate primaries? " this will be greeted by the usual cry in The Gambia,we are a poor country and have no money,will the Jammah Foundation for peace sponsor this ?, I doubt it...............next |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 03 Aug 2010 09:28:08 |
|
|
|
turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2010 : 12:12:57
|
| Like I said before, western democracy is expensive regime. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2010 : 15:19:29
|
quote:
Originally posted by turk
Wow, this Halifa dude has lots of numbers. That is good, at least he is thinking and trying to translate and formulate the numbers, facts to politics rather than the rhetoric. He also talking about socio-economic issues.
Terangba
So true. The primary is a must to involve the people into political process.
MANY MANY THANKS! THE TRUTH ALWAYS PREVAILS!
Related Bantaba Gambian politics topics;
PDOIS pushes Agenda 2011 under http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9346
Halifa Urges Gambians To Break Self Perpetuating Rule under http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9343
PDOIS Press Release after the UDP congress under http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9341
|
Edited by - kobo on 03 Aug 2010 15:32:32 |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2010 : 16:11:25
|
QUOTES from Essa Bokar Sey on AGENDA 2011; " We now have a compass to use for the benefit of all." 
More on Launching of Agenda 2011- Best Political Compass for The Gambia. ; courtesy of Gambia Journal under http://www.thegambiajournal.com/Commentary/701.html |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11682 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2010 : 18:44:08
|
PDOIS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA 2011
By Publisher on 03-08-10
The Peoples Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism PDOIS held a rally in support of Agenda 2011 on Saturday 31st July 2010 at Latri Kunda Yiring’anya.
In his address to the audience, the spokeperson of PDOIS, Halifa Sallah, noted that People of wisdom have stated that a person who knows himself or herself should know what belongs to him or her, what he or she owns jointly with others and what is entrusted to him or her.He told the audience that Gambia is their collective property and that this requires them to discuss its affairs.
He told the audience that in 1965, there was a referendum as well as 1970 and 1996. He said the purposes of those referenda are still not known to many Gambians and that is precisely the reason why they are meeting today to discuss what should have been discussed 45 years ago.
Halifa told the audience that the Gambia is a sovereign republic and that the people of the Gambia are sovereign people. As sovereign people they are supposed to determine their manner of government. He told the audience that referenda were to acknowledge the supremacy of the power of the people over that of their leaders who are to be their mere public trustees.
He said the voters’ card is a symbol of the power that each sovereign Gambian has.
Halifa said that many people do not understand what politics is all about and why each should vote. He told the audience that each morning each family’s adult members leave home to find something to feed one’s family. He asked them to explain who should take care of the street to prevent it from being a jungle. He said development must take place outside of every home before families could leave their homes in search of the means of survival. He said the development requires a budget which must come from the people and must be managed by persons of their choice. He said the fact that each must have a say in determining who should manage their collective wealth is what elections and politics are all about.
Halifa said that to refuse to vote is to forfeit one’s right to say who should manage the affairs of the country. Such a person is not fit to be a Gambian citizen. He said each voter is as significant as the person elected through the combined votes of the many to preside over the affair of the nation. He stressed that that is precisely the reason why those who fail to vote during elections have no one to blame for the condition of the country but themselves. He said this is because if a sovereign person fails to cast his or her vote in elections, he or she is simply acknowledging that he or she is no longer a sovereign person who has power to determine the country’s manner of government and therefore becomes part of the creators of all the ills in the country.
Halifa gave an inspiring story of a pensioner whose earnings could not buy a bag of rice and who relied on the support of a wife who was married to her for 40 years and died of hypertension and diabetes. He indicated the tragedy which befell his three sons. One had left for Europe and was never heard from again. Another died at sea and the third one was imprisoned for 10 years for possession of narcotics.
Halifa explained how the mind of the man wondered on the cause of their suffering. The suffering of his children is not due to the traditional notion that his wife was not a good wife. Since he considered his wife to be among the best partners he attributed the suffering of his family to the wish of god.
He however cited a verse in the Quran which is saying that the hardship that we see on us is placed on us by no other than our fellow human beings.
Halifa told the audience that the purpose of the meeting today is the decision to promote the selection of an opposition candidate through a primary. He said all those who wish to stand against the APRC candidate, be they members of political parties or independent personalities, would accept to face each other in a primary and would mutually vow to support the candidature of the eventual single winner.
He said the winner will also agree to administer a 2 to 5 years transitional government, build the instruments, institutions and culture of democracy, rights, justice that would culminate in the creation of an open and free society that would allow a genuine multi party system to thrive. Halifa told the audience that in the 2006 presidential election, out of a 670,336 registered voters, 405,932 did not vote for president Jammeh and that 542,055 voters did not also vote for the opposition.
He said people of wisdom have been thinking over the years as to how they could combat voter apathy. To combat this, he said, it is thought that the best thing to do is to go back to the people since they are the owners of power. He said if PDOIS was convinced that if they gave support to another opposition party or leader the incumbent could be removed it would not have hesitated to do so on condition that that party would do what the agenda is calling for. He said that the facts do not allow them to be convinced. He noted that PDOIS is not convinced that any party could bring about change on its own because of the fact that 542,055 voters did not vote for the opposition in 2006 election.He said that they are not sure whether the voter apathy is due to the disapproval of the candidates or some other reason. He said a primary is the surest way to determine what the people truly want.
Halifa then proceeded to show why democratic change is needed. He said every country rely on five pillars to measure development.
He said that in the area of civil rights the government should have ensured that all are equal before the law and that none is subjected to arbitrary arrests, detention and disappearances. He said that the 72 hour time limit for legal detention without trial is disregarded. He cited other examples where the government is failing in the area of civil rights.
The second area he cited is one on political rights. He said the constitution has indicated that all authority must be derived from the consent of the people. He said that the President does not hesitate to say that the voters cannot remove him from office which aims to make them believe that authority is not derived from the people. He said that people want a government which recognises their powers. Further, he said that the president has said that those who support him will reap development and those who fail to support him will be deprived of development. Haifa said that development is derived from the tax monies of the people and from loans which must be paid back from funds collected from both ruling party and opposition supporters. Halifa emphasised that everyone has a right to benefit from public services. He said that the law requires all persons irrespective of party affiliation to pay taxes. There is no law which says that if you do not support the president one should not pay taxes. Hence all should benefit from services irrespective of party affiliation.
Halifa explains that in the area of economic development the government is also failing. He said that if one looks at our school system, one would discover that there are over 180,000 pupils in our lower Basic,60,000 in our upper Basic and 28,000 in our senior secondary schools. He argued that in 12 years time, all of them will be out of the school system. He then asked the audience where these 300,000 young people would get employment if the productive sector of the economy is not developed to generate income and thereby create job opportunities to the people.
Halifa indicated that both the public and private sectors have potential for development. He said the development potential of our public enterprises has not been harnessed. He said that if one looks at the public enterprises, one would discover that in 1998, their gross turnover amounted to D804 million and in 1999 it increases to D940 million. He told the audience it is the dividends derived from the profits of those turnovers which should have expanded Public sector investment into the productive base. Halifa said that he would only give one example of the wrong policies of the government since time was against him. He told the audience that if they want more information they should come early to attend meetings rather than wait until it is getting dark before coming. He said that after the Kombo Coastal road was built GPTC had more than 22 buses. He said that if government wants to generate employment and ensure a multiplying effect on development a north and south bank road network should have been built which could be linked by a bridge across the river at Pasamasse to link it to Fatoto. He said the buses could have operated on a nationwide basis to generate employment for people to serve as conductors, drivers, fitters, accountants, managers etc. He said the National Transport Service would have been linked to the creation of bus Depots which would have led to the establishment of small businesses all over the country. This move would have created both employment and self employment possibilities.
Halifa added that over 1.3 to 1.6 billion dollars worth of currency are exchanged in our banking system annually; that is almost 40000 Million dalasis. He said this currently has little effect on the productive base. Furthermore, he indicated that some private companies are making profit and should be encouraged to invest in other sectors of the National economy. He said one mobile company claims to have 650000 customers. He said if each customer buys 100 dalasi worth of credit a week a sum of 65 Million dalasi would be earned in a week, over 200 dalasi Million in a month and over 3000 Million dalasi in a year. He said investments could have been made into the productive base to generate more employment. Halifa informed the gathering that in 2006 alone people who sent money to the Gambia from the Diaspora amounted to 1700 Million dalasi. He helped the audience to know the value of the sum by indicating that it could have constructed 14 bridges like the Sankulay Kunda -Janjanburey type. He said a special advisory office should have been created to enable Gambians abroad to know how to invest their earnings; that a special Land fund could have been created for them to contribute to and be given land so that their contribution could further be used to provide the area with infrastructural development.
Halifa indicated how housing should have been made accessible to all workers through a revolving fund. He lamented the situation of the Dock workers who could have been receiving foreign exchange from shipping companies just as those who join fishing trawlers are reciving. He said many of these dock workers are now reduced to beggars when they should have been living in good houses and even driving cars.
Foroyaa will publish the other developments.
Source: Foroyaa Online |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
