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Momodou
Denmark
11723 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Nov 2010 : 17:59:55
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IEC boss deplores demand for 'No-Election'
By Lamin B. Darboe
Monday, November 01, 2010 Picture: Alhaji Mustapha Carayol
Alhaji Mustapha L. Carayol, Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, has described as a non-starter, the "no-elections" demand, stressing that this should be discouraged in all its forms for the betterment of the much-needed development.
"Election is a conflict resolution mechanism to settle unresolved issues and holding free and fair election is a pre-condition for most, if not all, international development agencies' interventions in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa," Mr. Carayol said.
The IEC boss made this declaration in a paper delivered on his behalf by Samboujang Njie, Director of Operations at the IEC, during a powerpoint presentation at the closing of a four-day regional outreach forum organised by the National Assembly at the Paradise Suites Hotel on Saturday.
In his presentation on the topics: "Why elections; Different types of elections; Role of voters in the election process; and Post and Pre-election activities," IEC Chairman Carayol said genuine and periodic elections lend credence to the democratic profile of a country.
"Therefore, the demand for 'no-election' is a non-starter, and should be discouraged in all its forms for the betterment of the much-needed development," he said, adding that elections provide for the creation of government, including representative institutions such as parliaments and area councils.
According to the IEC chairman, elections provide the basis for the authority to govern in a modern democratic state.
"Voters should not place any political banners, posters, placards, drawings, billboards or similar materials on public buildings, national monuments or religious institutions without the owner’s expressed consent," he said.
He stated that voters should ensure no campaign in public offices or educational institutions during working hours or hours of instruction, and should not in anyway disrupt, destroy or frustrate the campaign efforts of political parties or candidates.
In his view, elections are very popular nowadays, not only in the first world, but also in the developing countries, where holding free, fair and regular elections is a precondition for most, if not all, development partners’ interventions.
"Election facilitates the participation of citizens in their government, a view that is buttressed by a number of international human rights and other instruments," he said, adding further that as a voter, one has rights to vote/or to be voted for, to cast a secret ballot, to campaign anywhere in the electoral division and to attend political rallies and meetings.
He called on the politicians to extend their full cooperation to the IEC and election officials to guarantee the integrity of the election process, and to ensure that safety and security are maintained throughout the election.
It would be recalled that the first regional outreach forum for Lower and North Bank Regions was held at Tendaba Camp in early August 2010.
According to the organisers, the third regional outreach forum for Upper and Central River Regions will take place early 2011, at a venue to be decided later.
Source: The Point
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2010 : 13:10:41
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Response from The Point:
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/iec-bosss-point-is-pertinent
I very much like the final quote in the piece.
IMPORTANT SNIPPET from the response:
"All too often, we hear about tensions and clashes across the continent, most of which occur over holding elections, and the manner in which they were held.
Needless to say, this unfortunate state of affairs could be avoided, if only citizens of most African states are allowed to exercise their right to vote, and to choose their leaders freely and fairly."
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IEC boss's point is pertinent
africa » gambia
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
The point raised by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission about the calls in some quarters for "No Elections" in the country, in his presentation at the just-concluded four-day outreach forum for members of the National Assembly, could not have been made at any better time than now.
The IEC Chairman argued that the demand for a “no election” is a non-starter, and should be discouraged in all its forms, for the betterment of the much-needed development of this country.
What can be more truthful, given the fact that open, free, fair, and regular elections are indispensable to any democracratic dispensation.
In any case, Gambians should bear in mind that the essence of our chosen form of political system is that it is the people who decide how they want to be governed.
All too often, we hear about tensions and clashes across the continent, most of which occur over holding elections, and the manner in which they were held.
Needless to say, this unfortunate state of affairs could be avoided, if only citizens of most African states are allowed to exercise their right to vote, and to choose their leaders freely and fairly.
We hope and pray that Gambians, especially the youth, who are the future leaders of this country, would give consideration to the concerns of the IEC Chairman.
We should understand that elections are a crucial means by which democratic institutions represent the will of the people for government action.
We should also understand that there could not be any genuine democracy without the holding of not only elections, but free, fair and transparent elections for that matter.
As such, it is time that we put a stop to the demand for "No Elections", simply because it is contrary to the Elections Decree, by what is stated in the constitution, which is the supreme law of this nation.
Elections provide a means by which the people can express their judgement on the work of government.
We quite agree with the IEC boss that elections are very popular nowadays, not only in the first world, but also in the developing countries, where holding free, fair and regular elections is a precondition for most, if not all, development partners’ interventions.
Indeed, those who call for “No Election” must be reminded that regular public elections provide the basis for the authority to govern in a modern democratic state.
"An election tells how many of your supporters are alive, and a war tells how many are willing to be dead"
Anonymous
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 02 Nov 2010 13:16:07 |
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