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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Mar 2017 : 13:00:17
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Barrow to go on tour to campaign for ‘Coalition candidates’
The Point: Thursday, March 23, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/barrow-to-go-on-tour-to-campaign-for-coalition-candidates
 President Adama Barrow starts his maiden nationwide tour today, Thursday, to “thank the Gambian people for voting him” and to campaign for the Coalition candidates in the April 6 National Assembly election.
According to a press release from State House in Banjul, the purpose of the tour, scheduled for 23 March – 2 April, is for Barrow to thank the Gambian people for voting for him as president in the 1st December 2016 election.
“The tour will also enable President Barrow, as Coalition leader, to familiarise himself with the political situation in the run-up to the National Assembly election in April this year,” the release issued yesterday stated.
During the nationwide tour, President Barrow will hold 36 general meetings in the seven regions of The Gambia.
“He will call on the electorate to vote for Coalition candidates for change so as to have a majority in the National Assembly. This will enable his government to implement its transition policies and programmes to effect the change Gambians have voted for during the December 2016 presidential election.”
The Office of the President called on all supporters to join President Barrow at the general meetings in their areas.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2017 : 13:01:30
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President Barrow’s tour and our reading of it
The Point Editorial: Thursday, March 23, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/president-barrows-tour-and-our-reading-of-it
The President will embark on a 10-day tour of the country commencing today through Sunday 2 April 2017.
As indicated by a statement from the Office of the President, the tour will avail the President the opportunity to thank the Gambian people for the overwhelming support given him by the people, as well as to call on the nation to vote for the “Coalition candidates” who form his government.
It is good that the President is going on a nationwide tour of the country to thank the people for voting him into office and for standing by him through a difficult power transition phase from the regime of former President Jammeh. The tour is quite in place as it demonstrates a spirit of gratitude and respect for the people.
However, what we are ambivalent about is whether the support the President wants from the electorate to ensure “coalition candidates” dominate the National Assembly to enable him implement his policies, would go that way.
Many people would have liked a smooth flow of the coalition parties and their candidates, through thick and thin, and with one mind or focus, for the President and his coalition government to be able to implement their policies and programmes.
But with the swift and very early split of the coalition right from the heads of the coalition pyramid - leaders of the various parties, it is largely doubtful whether the Barrow government would get that cohesive purpose of mind, action and focus from candidates who will emerge winners of the National Assembly elections.
In the first place, the cracks and split in the rank and file of the coalition would discourage many of the people who voted in the coalition government, as well as push some electorate to shun the elections and others to vote for candidates other than the coalition party members.
If things should go this way, it would be difficult for the coalition government to have a smooth run of state affairs in this new dispensation, which also means that the government’s policies and programmes will be hardly implemented as planned.
On the other hand, a government with majority of the parliamentarians in the House also poses a dicey situation, one with no strong or formidable check in the event it wants to go off track, as this has been the case with many governments of similar makeup around the world.
However, the people have the last say on voting day, and can make the crucial decision of who they want to serve as their representatives in the National Assembly, just as they decided in the December 1, 2016 presidential election.
Meanwhile, we wish the President a successful tour. Bye for now, Mr President!
“I know what motivated you was not just a political campaign. It was your love of our country”
Alan Nunnelee
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2017 : 15:56:41
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Building The New Gambia
By Madi Jobarteh
Monitoring Pres. Adama Barrow’s Country Tour
It has been announced that our Chief Servant Adama Barrow is going on a countrywide tour from today March 23. The government press release said the purpose of the tour is to thank Gambian people for voting for him and to campaign for the Coalition candidates in the April 6 National Assembly election. For that matter, it is important to highlight issues with this tour to ensure transparency and accountability.
In the first place, Section 225 subsection 15 said the president should make at least two country tours “in order to familiarize himself or herself with current conditions and the effect of government policies”. From this constitutional provision it is clear that this particular tour is not in fulfillment of that provision. This is because Barrow has not formulated and implemented any policy yet. Secondly he has spent only 65 days in office, which is not adequate to assess the impact of his government. Hence this is not an official presidential countrywide tour and the press release did not make any reference to this provision.
This makes this tour a partisan political tour which, of course the president as a politician can make especially in times of election to campaign for himself or his party. This is allowed in a democracy. But because this is not an official activity therefore the government cannot carry the funding of this activity. This is where we now need to see the kind of leadership that Barrow will provide.
It is clear that the Coalition parties, individually and collectively had lamented severely about the electoral malpractices of Yaya Jammeh, which led them to engage in boycotts and petitions and court cases. Now they are in power and therefore the ball is now in their court. This is when the Coalition Government will show us whether they are genuine and honest leaders or they are no different from Yaya Jammeh.
Thus this is what I want to tell Pres. Barrow and his Coalition Government. In the first place, this tour should be funded by their Coalition and not by the Gambia Government.
The only expenses that the State can incur would be the personal security, accommodation, feeding and perdiem of the president. For that matter, he should go with only a small number of staffs such as his security detail, communications and some policy officers. This number must be small because they also have phone and Internet facilities such that he can still maintain communications with State House. The Gambia is a small country which means an officer who needs to consult with the president can drive back and forth from Banjul within one day just to make sure state functions continue to be executed. Thus the expenses of the president and his personal staffs must be funded by the state.
I do not expect any service chiefs, permanent secretaries, lawmakers, policy officials and a host of other government functionaries to be in this tour. This means the Coalition ministers who are on this tour must pay for their own expenses. They must not carry any ministerial staffs with them during this tour.
There should no government vehicles carrying supporters of their parties in the Coalition. No police or army trucks or government vehicles should be used. The ministers who are politicians must use their own personal or party vehicles and their own drivers. State drivers must not be in this tour. No perdiems must be paid to the ministers.
School children must not be asked to line-up the streets to welcome the president. Schools must not be interrupted as Yaya Jammeh used to do. Local government offices must not close their offices. Their office premises must not be venues for partisan political meetings or the mobilization of supporters as Yankuba Colley and governors used to do at KMC and Area Councils. No Area Council or mayor or governor should hire bunch of Gelegele vehicles for the tour. They should also not buy and share ashobi for party supporters. Local government officers have no business in the rallies of the president with communities. Local government officials are public officers and they must not engage in partisan politics. If the president wants, he can meet them in their offices for official talk.
The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly should pay attention in reviewing the next government accounts to ensure that there are no expenses related to this tour paid by the government except for the president and his tiny staffs. If such payments are made, the PAC must ask for refunds from the affected persons. Heads of public institutions and public officers who are asked to provided public resources for this activity must refuse to do so and be prepared to go to court for any reprisal.
To ensure greater transparency I call on citizens to get their phones, cameras and videos ready to take pictures of where they see public resources being used for partisan activities to share with the country. We have to start to defend the supreme interests of the Gambia. We must insist on true democracy and good governance. The president and his government must be severely scrutinized and held to account to ensure they provide the right leadership at all times. This is for our security and survival in freedom and dignity.
God Bless The Gambia.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2017 : 10:10:28
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PRESIDENT BARROW’S TOUR
Foroyaa Editorial: March 23, 2017
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/14990#more-14990
The announcement that President Barrow is to undertake a provincial tour has met with divergent views. Many associate the tour with the current electoral campaign for seats in the national Assembly. Some opposition party leaders have expressed concern that the tour is ill timed.
It is important to explain what could or could not be done during the tour if the president chooses to undertake it.
First and foremost every action of the president should be guided by the provisions of the Constitution and other laws of the country. The only section that could be relied on for comment is section 222 paragraph 15 which states:
“The President shall undertake a nation-wide tour at least twice a year in order to familiarise himself or herself with current conditions and the effects of government policies.”
If we rely on this section he is duty bound not to go beyond familiarising himself with the current situation of the people and the impact of the actions the government has taken so far to address public concerns.
In that regard he is likely to be faulted by the opposition if he gives any signal that tends to impact on the current electoral campaign.
He is likely to utilise government transports and to be accompanied by public servants. It is a requirement of the law that public facilities should not be utlised to engage in campaign.
It is expected that the principal legal adviser for the government who is the Attorney General and Minister of Justice will advise the President on what he should or should not do to be in compliance with the constitution and other laws.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2017 : 08:29:04
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VOTE FOR THE BEST IN THE COALITION-President Barrow
By Aja Musu Bah-Daffeh on tour
Foroyaa: March 27, 2017
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/15027
 The President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow on day 3 of his nationwide tour at N’ganyen Sanjal in Sabach Sanjal District, Central River Region North urged the people to vote for his candidates who belong to all the Political Parties that are part of the Coalition and not to vote for the opposition candidates.
On the arrival of the President at N’gayen Sanjal, he was welcomed by a jubilating crowd that includes civil servants, chiefs, Imams, youths, etc.
He acknowledged the people of Sabach Sanjal for their rousing welcome noting that the purpose of his tour is to commend Gambians for their support and collaboration during the Presidential elections and also to campaign for all the eight 8 Political Party Candidates, whom he said are all his family. He asserted that he would not therefore sit back and watch them fight alone. He also urged them not to vote for the opposition but for the right candidate who can represent them in parliament in order to be their ‘voice’ there. He said if the opposition is voted for, it will be like going back to the former regime.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Lands and Regional Government Mr Lamin Dibba commended Sabach Sanjal in forming a unity banner in the change of the former government. He then emphasised that no candidate should campaign in the name of the Coalition because the Coalition, he said is not a party but rather a unity banner where all the eight parties come together for the betterment of the country.
Mr Dibba added that people should respect and honor the Constitution of The Gambia, nothing that whoever violated the Constitution will face the law. “National development cannot be done by one but rather it is a collective responsibility, therefore let us all unite in order to develop our own nation” said the minister. He however urged the people of Sabach Sanjal not to vote for the opposition candidate but they can vote for the right and competent person who can represent them in the parliament and can work towards the development of the country.
Amat Bah the Minister of Tourism reiterated that even though Sabach Sanjal did not vote for President Barrow during the last Presidential election, President Barrow will visit them because he is serving the Gambians irrespective of place.
He revealed that all the vehicles used in the tour have been sponsored by President Barrow, that they have ceased to use state property. He reiterated that President Barrow believes in nation building and that is what he stands for, therefore he said it is the responsibility of everyone to play a role in the development of the country.
He stated that a contract has been given to the Minister of Works to identify all the Feeder Roads in order to kick-start feeder road construction and the project of 2,000 boreholes given to the Minister of Work. He further continued: “The National Intelligent Agency (NIA) and the Immigrations have no right to arrest anyone, it is the responsibility of the police to arrest, but no one will be arrested if you do not commit an offense”. The tourism Minister said civil servants will be respected and their salaries will be increased, therefore he urged Gambians to give maximum gratitude to the all the security personnel especially the Police.
Malick Boye of N’gayen Sanjal acknowledged the president and his delegate for their visit. He said Gambia has now gained its full sovereignty after the 22 years of misrule by the former president Yahya Jammeh. Therefore, he urged Gambians to be tolerant and avoid violence during the national assembly election.
Boye lamented their needs for agricultural materials, electricity supply and water and road because during the rainy season they encounter a lot of difficulties in terms of transportation, adding that Sabach Sanjal wants the government to help them with a mini stadium.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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President Barrow's goes on nationwide tour
