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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Apr 2014 : 06:19:16
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A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Bissau.
1. Daily Observer covered these reports;
2. Related Stories;
3. Related BBC News Guinea-Bissau run-off to decide president
4. THE GAMBIA GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HUMBLE AND LEARN FROM GUINEA BISSAU
Published on Thursday, 17 April 2014 | Written by Ousman Njie
The radio and TV are being utilised to convey how the Gambia Government contributed in shaping the agenda for peace in Guinea Bissau. In actual fact, lessons should be drawn from Guinea Bissau.
The first lesson is that despite instability and limitation of resources, The Independent Electoral Commission of Guinea Bissau was empowered to register Bissau citizens resident in the Gambia and guaranteed their franchise. Since 1960, universal suffrage has been introduced in the Gambia.
Since 1996, a Commission has been established to preside over electoral matters. There is absolutely no doubt that if the Government and National Assembly provide the budget line for the registration of Gambian citizens resident abroad as voters, the IEC would do so. What is very strange is for the Government to cooperate for other nationals resident in the Gambia to vote in their national elections, while making no attempt for Gambians abroad to do the same.
What lesson do we have to teach Guinea Bissau?
Secondly, Many African Countries are moving away from first pass the post principle to that of the absolute majority principle, by making it a requirement for a candidate to have more than 50 percent of the total votes cast before being declared a winner in the first round.
Guinea Bissau has adopted this democratic principle. The Gambia, on the other hand, has amended that portion of the Constitution. Finally, if after their election the Bissau government continues to ensure that the public media are open to divergent views and dissenting opinions, Guinea Bissau‘s democratic environment would be far ahead of that of the Gambia where the TV is still under the complete monopoly of the ruling party.
Humility is the route to self rectification and progressive development on the road to democracy and sustainable development.
Source: Editorial: Foroyaa News
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Edited by - kobo on 19 Apr 2014 10:49:51 |
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GAMBIA GOVERNMENT LEARN FROM GUINEA BISSAU
Daily Observer News