Final Call; Statement of Presidential Candidate & Secretary General of the United Democratic Party, Ousainu Numukunda Darboe

Banjul, The Gambia – delivered on Tuesday, 22^nd November 2011

In four years’ time, in 2015, The Gambia will be 50 years old. Fifty years, since we attained independence from the British colonialist. On that 18^th day of February 1965, there was great hope about the glory and prosperity that was to come. And for those of us who were youths at the time, we indeed enjoyed the initial benefits of self-determination and the honour of independence. Some of you have fond memories of 1965; some of you have heard the story of the proud raising of The Gambian flag; some of you have seen the pictures of that joyous and historic day.

Fellow Gambians, I was there on the birth of The Gambia as an independent country within the Commonwealth of Nations. I remember the men, women and children and their dignified pageantry; they came from every corner of The Gambia. They were attired and bejewelled in finery; their beautiful smiles symbolic of the glorious hope they had for their children and grandchildren. I remember the Seyfolus, in their bonnets and gowns; confident that Gambia was forever free; I remember the bright faces of the children; they, the innocent inheritors of a modern democratic Gambia. Together we rejoiced and prayed; ‘That all may live in unity; freedom and peace each day’. Like all the young men of the provinces, and the youths of the Kombos and Banjul, I too, made my pact with my country, and resolved to serve our motherland.

Fellow Gambians, today I come before you, for the third time, to ask you to give me your votes, so that I can form a unity government that will include Hamat Bah, the Independent Candidate, and all the opposition figures who support him, to revive the hope and glory that we have lost, and bring forth the era of Development with Dignity.

Like many of my contemporaries, when we won our independence from the British, it was to be the era for prosperity, self determination and development with for everyone. Our souls were filled with pride; our hearts effused with joy; and our aspirations for our country were unbounded. It became the solemn duty of every Gambian citizen, to do their patriotic best for the country, through hard work and diligence.

For me, I excelled in my education; I trained in law and jurisprudence; I represented the weak and the poor; I fought for the vulnerable and disadvantaged; I earned the respect and credit of my peers; I found my vocation to serve my country; and I have never stopped.

Like all right-minded Gambians, I found it offensive, obnoxious and outrageous, that Yahya Jammeh and his clique, with no mandate from citizens; with force of arms; with treasonable conduct; had usurped power and ended the democracy and freedom we had won from the British.

Fellow Gambians, just as we use righteous values and standards in our private lives to run our homes and bring up our children, as a country, we MUST maintain civilised values and the rule of law in the governance of this country. That is why in 1996, when these soldiers were armed to the teeth; when arbitrary arrests, detentions and all sorts of injustices were happening; when politicians were banned from running their parties; when a lot of atrocities were being committed, including killings, arrests and detentions in broad daylight; I interrupted my law practice to challenge Yahya Jammeh. That is why Omar Jallow (OJ) resisted; that is why Sidia Jatta and Halipha Sallah resisted; that is why Hamat Bah stood up in protest; that was why Lamin Waa Juwara resisted; and that is why today, Mai Fatty stands by my side today, fighting for our freedom and Development with Dignity; despite the persecutions we have all suffered.

It is true, that many people became disappointed and dissatisfied with Sir Dawda Jawara, after he remained in power for a very long time. Yet, whatever we think of him, Jawara maintained peace, human rights and the individual dignity of the citizens.

Yahya Jammeh justified his unlawful seizure of power because he said he wanted to end corruption and bad governance. Today, you are all witnesses to his very claims that he is rich beyond imagination. You see his lifestyle on a daily basis.

As civil servants struggle to find money for transport to go to work, Yahya Jammeh parades in a fleet of fancy vehicles and flies a private jet.

As farmers and labourers starve and struggle to get three square meals for their children; Yahya Jammeh pathetically throws crumbs to our children in the streets.

I remember the bright faces and hopeful eyes of the Gambian children at the birth of our nation. Forty four years on, the hope and glory is gone, Yahya Jammeh has made it his business to reduce our children to beggars, whilst he luxuriates in dubious wealth.

Fellow Gambians, enough is enough; go out on Thursday, 24^th November 2011, and vote massively for me, Ousainu Numukunda Darboe and a UDP unity government. Let us do it for ourselves; let us do it for our children; let us do it for our honour and respect; let us do it for our country.

Today, grown men are compelled to behave like emasculated servants – whimpering, bowing and submitting to this tormentor, Yaya Jammeh, and his bullying agents. Today, our esteemed elders and religious leaders are compelled to behave like delirious sycophants – validating, encouraging and praising this tyrant, Yaya Jammeh, and his small clique of collaborators. As a nation of decent people, we have been disgraced, demeaned and demoralised. We are treated, spoken to and chastised as children. A wicked and contemptuous tyrant, with his small band of minions have subdued, subjugated and subverted the freedom and dignity of 1.7 million citizens. Enough is enough.

Fellow Gambians, ours is now a mature country. It is time for us to stop the denial; it is time for us to stop fooling ourselves; it is time for us to insist on values and honour. It is time for CHANGE!  It is time for development with dignity. We the people; democracy is on our side; freedom is on our side; the Lord Allah, the Almighty, is on our side.

On Thursday, 24^th November 2011; rise early and pray to your Lord, for peace, wisdom and honour. Go to your pooling station, to exercise your civic duty and seal your contract with destiny. Be calm, collected and steadfast, in the dignified manner of Gambian ladies and gentlemen. Enter the pooling booth, in the name of democratic freedom and development with dignity. You will be alone, just you; your conscience and God. In your hand, you have your voting card and your single marble. You have the future of your children and grandchildren in your hand; you have the destiny of our motherland in your hand. You may have attended Yahya Jammeh’s rallies because of peer and security pressure and the carnival atmosphere that he paid for. You may have stayed away from politics to avoid Yahya Jammeh’s vengeful attention. At this stage, you have to choose between right and wrong. No one is your judge except Allah.

Fellow Gambians, make your peace with Gambia and vote for what you know is right. Vote for a UDP unity government. Vote for a Darboe presidency. Vote for development with dignity.

In 1996, I stood up against Yahya Jammeh and his band of coup makers, because of their offensive, obnoxious and outrageous criminality. I warned you against the moral hazard of  impunity and condoning misconduct. It is my duty as your presidential candidate, to remind you that it is not too late for us Gambian to redeem ourselves, for allowing Yahya Jammeh to suppress our people for 17 years. The shame of 17 years of Yahya Jammeh is on all our heads. This is the time to redeem ourselves and beg forgiveness for our condoning the venality and the viciousness he has brought to our country.  

First, he overthrew an elected government; we did nothing, because we said, we were tired of Jawara;

Yahya Jammeh treats our country as his personal property. He abuses and demeans the office of president by running oligopolistic businesses, through opaque corporate structures.

For those Gambians who still fall for the fallacy of Jammeh’s development, I beg you to wake up to reality. A hospital without medicine is like a drinking vessel without water; a school without books is like a head without a brain; and a country without freedom is like a man without honour.

Fellow Gambians, today, I have returned to the KMC, having once again travelled the length and breadth of our country; meeting and talking with the good people of our land. My heart is filled with sorrow, pride and humility; I am sorry for the pain and suffering I saw in the eyes of old men. I am proud of the unwavering tenacity of Gambian women. I am humbled by the great responsibility the electorate places on the shoulders of politicians.  I an encouraged by the determination they have shown in ushering in CHANGE on 24th November, 2011.

My mind races with the ideas and programmes that my government will undertake in its first 100 days; whilst I think of all the good and talented Gambians at home and abroad, who are ready and willing to join the unity government in its task of national reconstruction and reconciliation. Yet, I feel at peace with my country as I rededicate myself to the service of this country that I love so much. As I ask you for your vote and mandate, I also pray to Allah the almighty for guidance, wisdom and patience.

Fellow Gambians, I remind you once again to use your secret vote effect CHANGE. Go out on this appointed day of Thursday, 24^th November 2011 and end the trap, the curse and the nightmare of the Yahya Jammeh’s government. Vote for a UDP unity government, vote for a Darboe presidency, vote for Gambia’s renaissance, make this Gambia’s AUTUMN REVOLUTION and vote for Development with Dignity.

I thank you for your kind attention.

Long Live UDP and its Alliance Partners

Long Live Gambia and her Good People.

A.N.M. Ousainu Darboe

Presidential Candidate

UDP/GMC/PPP/NCP Alliance

Mariama Darboe-Janneh, my dear cousin, has said it all.  Papa Ousainu Darboe is indeed the best father, uncle, grandfather, husband, and brother anyone would want to have.  His house is a place many can call home. The greatest moment in my life was living in his house. I grew up loving him like my father; in fact he was my father.

Growing up in his house made me value family and love and treat everyone equally and with respect. I remember, we used to look forward to him coming home from work because he always brings something back for us. He also plays basket or football with us on a daily basis; I mean almost  every day. That is how close and fun of him we were as young teenagers.

Taking care of one teenager is tough enough for any parent, not to talk of handling eight to night teenagers.  It was a marathon that he did not only earn a gold medal for, he did it best in bringing us all up decently and proudly. I cannot say we are all successful but the majority of us are prosperous and the rest are on the part of being what he wanted us to be.

Papa Ousainu is a mentor, role model and virtuous leader. He is strong, courageous, trustworthy, determined, and considerate. He is a man I grew up to love and like as a father, uncle and friend.

The function of a leader is to produce more leaders, not more followers. This, in Papa Ousainu’s list, is the number one goal. He shares his riches with everyone and brings out the best in people. In his own words, ‘‘we are all leaders in one way or the other’’.

Doing something good for people is not something Papa Ousainu does occasionally; it is part of his daily routine. He has a golden heart and he is exactly the leader Gambians need.

I will forever be grateful to you, Papa Ousainu (Baba), for all that you have done for me. We love you and will always stand by you. Wish you all the best in the November 24^th presidential elections.

Mariama Bah

Gaithersburg, MD

 The UDP Kombo Central Youth Wing, ahead of the November Presidential Polls, held mass political meetings in the clusters of Daruhairu, Wellingara, Nyambai Baba Galleh, Sanneh Kunda, Darsilameh, Nemagibunto, and Newtown respectively in support of their party and candidate.

Speaking at the Daruhairu Rally, Alieu Darboe the UDP Sponsored Candidate for Kembujeh Ward,  tasked the young people to snub Jammeh and vote massively for the UDP saying that it is only the United Democratic Party that can address the needs of the Gambian youths. Darboe assured the meeting that The Gambia under the leadership of Lawyer Darboe will be free from all forms of maltreatment. ''If you want peace, stability and justice as well as the rule of law, vote for Lawyer Ousainou Darboe.'' he noted.

Mr. Darboe also called on the people of Daruhairu and Brikama in particular, to desist from abstaining from voting, noting that those who refuse to vote are the ones encouraging bad governance. According to Mr. Darboe, the time for change is in the offering and it will be wise for every development and peace oriented Gambian to join the movement and vote for Lawyer Darboe.

On the disappearance of Kanyiba Kanyi, Chief Ebrima Manneh, he urged the government of the day to investigate the matter with seriousness as no individual could go missing in a small nation like The Gambia without any trace.'' I also want the government to investigate the missing of other people including the former Bwiam District Chief, Modou Lamin Nyassi, and others.''

The UDP Kombo Central Youth Mobiliser, Lamin Jatta, tasked the young people to be part of the change as Gambians will decide on November 24^TH. He stated that Jammeh administration has done nothing promising for the youth of the Gambia, adding that a UDP Unity Government will put the young people at the top of their priority list.

Foday Gassama, the West Coast Coordinator, also called for attitudinal change and urged the youths and women not to allow Jammeh to perpetuate his misrule.

Other speakers at the respective rallies are Ba-Foday Sanneh, UDP Kembujeh Ward Chairman, Karamo Darboe, Banffa Sannoh, Binta Jabang, and Mangic Sonko who all echoed similar remarks.

Alhagie S. Darboe, the UDP Kembujeh Ward Campaign Manager and Organizing Secretary for Kombo Central campaign, chaired the meetings.

(Reporting by Sulayman Darboe, editing by Fatou Gaye)

Publisher: United Democratic Party

The UDP leader, Lawyer Ousainu Darboe, has called on the people of CRR to vote for him and the UDP/GMC/PPP Alliance in order for them to be free from Jammeh’s mal-administration and to reclaim their dignity and sovereignty. He was speaking at rallies held in Sami Madina and Bansang on the third day of his nationwide tour ahead of the November 24th Polls.

Darboe, a strong challenger to the incumbent Yaya Jammeh, said that the votes will determine at the end of the voting exercise on November 24th whether he will lead the Gambia or Jammeh. ‘’We all know that the present Gambian situation needs to CHANGE and no one can do that well than the electorates. '' He added. ‘‘If we want to have a peace of mind, we should make concerted efforts to unseat Jammeh from power as he has done more harm than good during his seventeen year rule. ''Darboe charged.

According to Darboe, the globe is changing and the wind of that change has started blowing in the Gambia. He advised the people to come out in their large numbers to vote on Election Day in order to end the bad governance system in The Gambia. ‘‘Abstaining from voting means you are creating an avenue for a bad government to continue’’, he said, noting that what matters much is for you, the people, to vote against Jammeh and vote for me for development with dignity and to be liberated from all forms of maltreatment by the Jammeh government.

Mai Fatty, the GMC Leader, speaking earlier at the rallies, also echoed similar remarks emphasizing that the November election will be a history in the Gambia as the larger Gambian population are yearning for change through a ballot box. He urged women and young people to vote massively as the year 2011 is a change for The Gambia. Mr. Fatty cited other nations where changes took place through the ballot box and urged Gambians to emulate the same.

Meanwhile, over 170 APRC militants in Bansang have defected to the UDP.

(Reporting by Sulayman Darboe, editing by Fatou Gaye)
Publisher; United Democratic Party

To many of you, he is the leader of the United Democratic Party. To me, he is a father, a great dad for that matter. He is also a dedicated husband, uncle, brother, cousin and grandfather to other members of my family.  He is Papa Ousainu Numukunda Darboe, the guy you all affectionately call Lawyer Darboe.

 I remember, in the summer of 1996 while he was in US in his capacity as vice president of  the Gambia National Olympics and Sports Committee, attending the summer Olympics in Atlanta, he called a family meeting to discuss with us about running for president. He told us he was approached by people in The Gambia to run against the military turned civilian, Yahya Jammeh and his AFPRC/APRC government. He had a very frank discussion with us and made it clear that running against the military junta presents lots of risks to himself and the family including being arrested, maimed or even killed but nonetheless posited that he was up to the challenge.  Everyone agrees with him and supported his decision to challenge the Junta. I became one of his strongest political supporters since then. 

What our country needs right now, after 17 years of Jammeh’s misrule, is a strong,  responsible, compassionate, open-minded, and forward thinking president with excellent morals; someone who values people’s power and potentials. I believe my father has all these qualities.

My dad has six children but I grew up in a household where it was hard to differentiate between my biological siblings and his adopted kids. He helped educate countless children by paying for their school fees including the nieces and nephews of Pap Cheyassin Secka. He is a man of great moral character who respects and values his culture.

Growing up, he would send us to Bansang and Dobo every summer so that we could spend time with our family in the province. As a young child, I wanted to stay in Banjul but I am forever grateful to him for making my provincial visits his priority as I would not otherwise have known my immediate and extended family in Bansang and Dobo.  I moved to the US as a teenager.

My dad is a very open-minded individual.  He never forces his beliefs on anyone including his children.  Most of my siblings are very soft spoken like him but I am quite the opposite.  This made me the likely person to follow his footsteps to become a lawyer. I, however, took a different career path and pursued a degree in public health.  Though he was a little disappointed that I did not follow his career path, he was always supportive of my decision.  He listens to my concerns about family matters and takes no offense to anything I said.

 My dad is a man who values people and nurtures relationships.  He still has the same secretary, the same driver and the same house keeper since my early childhood days. I am now married with two children of my own.

 Dad’s staff members are no longer workers but family members as they have been with him and our family for almost 30 years. My dad doesn’t burn bridges along the way, he builds them.

As most of you know, my dad gave up a lucrative and successful legal career to fight for the voiceless. For those who think he is a coward, I say to you “my dad is very FEARLESS”, he might not yell, he does not have an aggressive demeanor but he has spent all his life fighting for the less fortunate and the oppressed. This includes his defending of individuals charged with treason in the after math of the 1981 abortive coup and those detained under the various emergency powers promulgated by the then PPP government in relation to the same abortive coup.

My dad is a dedicated, generous, considerate, loving, and humble person. I urge you all to call your family and friends in The Gambia and ask them to vote for CHANGE and to vote for the UDP/PPP/GMC alliance for development with dignity.

 In my dad, Gambia will have a relentless, compassionate and fair leader. Its citizens will not be falsely charged of crimes they haven’t committed; they will not be abused or refused of rights that are inalienable to them. Instead, they’ll have a leader who has an unwavering dedication to serve the Gambian people and one who respects and believes in every individual’s right to pursue happiness and the desire to develop their potentials to the maximum. Gambians deserve better! Gambians deserve change! Gambians deserve  development with dignity!

Love you, Daddy (Papa Ousainu), and wish you all the best in your fight for liberation and development with dignity for all Gambians.

Mariama Darboe-Janneh

Taxas, USA

Statement by Lawyer A.N.M. Ousainou Darboe, Presidential Candidate & Secretary General of the United Democratic Party.

Ministerial Restructuring in

Preparation for the Formation of a Unity Government

Banjul, The Gambia – Friday, 11^th November 2011

On this Friday, 11^th November 2011, in the City of Banjul, I, Ousainou Numukunda Darboe, Presidential Candidate for the 24 November 2011 elections and Secretary General of the United Democratic, hereby formally presents to citizens of The Gambia, my proposed restructuring of the Ministries of government.

The objective of this restructuring is to specifically and purposefully reflect the current needs and priorities of our country, facilitate an integrated policy framework, improve governmental coherence and to ensure greater interdepartmental coordination. The restructuring will also embed and bolster a culture of effective, efficient and result-oriented public and civil services.

The unity government shall comprise the following Ministries and offices:

·         President & Minister of Defence

There shall be no change to the structure of this office. The President and Commander-in-Chief shall continue to be the Minister of Defence. The Gambia shall continue to be a peaceful country with no need for a separate, stand-alone Defence Ministry. When elected, I shall restore humility, maturity and dignity to the Office of President of The Republic of The Gambia and end the reckless, perilous and damaging interference and accusations directed at our neighbours. I shall also re-establish enlightened, progressive and effective defence relationships, especially with the sister republics of Senegal and Guinea Bissau.

·         Vice President & Minister of National Assembly Relations

Under the current government, ‘National Assembly Affairs’ is under the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources & National Assembly Affairs. For a government that is committed to ‘development with dignity’, the Executive must have a serious, genuine and respectful relationship with the Legislature. As such, responsibility for National Assembly relations shall be elevated and incorporated within the Office of the Vice President. This change shall ensure a better democratic reality whilst facilitating a healthier and more effective policy-making and legislative framework. 

·         Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (MAFF)

The Gambia needs coherent strategy – and most importantly – an integrated action plan for food production, rural development and all forms of agriculture (including fisheries). The restructuring will bring together the related departments in one coherent and focussed Ministry.

·         Ministry of Communication & Information Technology (CIT)

There shall be no change to the structure of this Ministry.

·         Ministry of Business, Employment & Social Security (BESS)

We aim to create an innovative and enterprising culture, based on open but responsible and ethical business practices. The purpose of such an innovative economy is to unleash our untapped potential, to produce national wealth, create good quality and long term jobs, and find a niche for ourselves in the competitive regional and world economy. This new Ministry shall have the role of creating a vibrant economy of mid-level, corporate and social entrepreneurs, whilst optimising job creation and protecting the interests of employees and the citizen-consumers.

·         Ministry of Education & Skills (MES)

This Ministry will cover basic, secondary and vocational education. Most importantly, this Ministry will usher in a new approach to education. MES shall move us away from the superficiality of ‘paper qualifications’. Emphasis will be focused on: substantive and sound knowledge of subject disciplines; practical skills relevant to modern professions and trades; and dynamic aptitudes that enable our children and citizens to compete well with people from all over the world. We believe that education is the great equaliser and MES shall ensure that we produce knowledgeable, skilled, innovative and confident citizens.

·         Ministry of Energy & Water (MEW)

There can be no serious development, without adequate, reliable and affordable supply of energy and water. This is basic. Unfortunately, Gambia has totally failed in ensuring energy and water security. This new Ministry shall be the fuel that fires and maintains the improvement of Gambian economic and domestic life. (We will close down the pretentious Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources).

·         Ministry of Forestry, Environment & Sustainability (FES)

This Ministry will put more emphasis on the sustainability of the country’s natural resources, by preventing degradation as well as promoting the augmentation and efficiency of usage of existing resources. The Ministry will maintain responsibility for specific issues such as coastal erosion, pollution, desertification, biodiversity and climate change. 

·         Ministry of Finance & Trade (MFT)

Income generated directly and indirectly through internal, regional and international trade is the most important source of finance for our country. As such, our trade policy and practice need to be closely linked to public finances.

·         Ministry of Foreign, Regional & Diaspora Relations (FRD)

Within the international arena, The Gambia use to have a reputation as a peaceful haven of human rights. This has been totally destroyed by the current government. The Gambia now aligns itself to pariah nations. Through the reform of this Ministry, we shall reverse the existing negative foreign policy. The new Ministry shall not be pontificating on ‘foreign affairs’, it shall focus on creating, maintaining and improving productive relationships with regional and international partners. FRD shall also adopt an enlightened and forward-looking approach to dealing with the Gambian Diaspora.

·         Ministry of Health & Public Sanitation (HPS)

The health of people, is by nature affected by very many other aspects of life. The prevention of illness and disease as well as the provision of remedies and medical interventions involves complex sets of correlations. As such, it is critically important that this Ministry concentrates on the core task of safeguarding the health of the nation. Good public sanitation infrastructure and systems are crucial in preventing disease and illness, yet these facilities are terribly underdeveloped in The Gambia. Consequently, HPS will be tasked with giving appropriate practical focus on both the preventative and remedial aspects of health.

·         Ministry of Higher Education, Science & Innovation (HESI)

There shall be no change to the structure of this Ministry, but there will be greater focus on the promotion and facilitation of innovation, especially in the context of creating a vibrant innovative economy.

·         Ministry of Housing, Transport & Infrastructure (HTI)

Shelter, like food and water, is a fundamental requirement of human beings. In Gambia today, most of our citizens, in both rural and urban areas, live in sub-standard conditions of housing. The unity government deems housing as a priority within the general infrastructural development of the country. HTI shall ensure that modern days engineering techniques as well as alternative and environmentally-friendly technologies are used to provide housing, transports and other infrastructure solutions. HTI shall also develop a diversified transportation system, with greater use of River Gambia, especially for the transportation of cargo.

·         Ministry of Interior & Human Rights (IHR)

Human rights abuses have become common place in Gambia under the current government. The abuse is often gratuitous, cruel and sadistic. Occasionally, human rights abuses have been outrageously justified on the basis of maintenance of national security. Our restructuring will ensure that the same Ministry will be responsible for maintaining the security of the country as well as protecting the human rights of the citizens. Our democracy cannot mature and be embedded within the polity if we continue to see human rights as an extraordinary privilege. Human rights is a basic, ordinary and inalienable part of every human being. Protecting human and citizens’ rights is fundamental to maintaining national order and security. The overall goal of the unity government is to deliver ‘development with dignity’. There shall be zero-tolerance to indiscipline and human rights abuse, NO Ifs or BUTs

·         Ministry of Justice & Attorney General (MOJ)

There shall be no change to the structure of this Ministry, however the approach to its work will be totally overhauled. Under the current government, the office of the Ministry of Justice has been devalued and brought into disrepute. High turnover of Ministers and the introduction of a destructive and mercenary approach to judicial appointments and administration have undermined the independence and credibility of the judiciary. Under our unity government, the MOJ shall be tasked with making the Gambian judiciary a beacon of propriety and transforming the country into a haven of justice and fairness.

·         Ministry of Planning, Lands & Local Government (PLLG)

Gambia is a small country with relatively high population and increased urbanisation. This puts stresses on physical and natural resources, public services and amenities, and the quality of life of citizens. As such, it is of cardinal importance that the science, art and innovative possibilities of ‘planning’, are rigorous applied to every aspect of urban, rural and municipal management. PLLG shall facilitate strategic coherence in the land management of the country, and ensure adherence to adopted plans and schemes. 

·         Ministry of Social Welfare, Women & Youths (SWWY)

Women, children and young people suffer disproportionately from the ills of deprivation and disadvantage. This is not only unjust, it also leads to a national loss as their potential to contribute to the development of the country is frustrated or reduced. This new Ministry will combat inequality and work towards attaining a threshold of welfare for every citizen. Most importantly, it will facilitate the opening of opportunities such that every citizen, irrespective of age, gender, disability or socio-economic background is able to reach and fulfil their potential in life.

·         Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sports (TACS)

Sports is one of the most important cultural endeavours in society, providing, health, welfare and leisure benefits to people of all ages. The Ministry brings sports within the general cultural arena. This restructured Ministry shall promote Gambian tourism as a form of enlightened cultural and international exchange. Special emphasis will be put on ethical and responsible tourism, educational and artistic exchanges, and attracting new visitors from other parts of Africa and Asia. This approach reduces current dependence of European package tourism, a business model that has many economic and cultural weaknesses. The Ministry shall also diversify and improve the cultural festivals currently undertaken, to produce a comprehensive and representative portfolio of national cultural and artistic heritage.  

·         Ministry of Cabinet & Policy Affairs & Head of the President’s Office (CPA)

Modern government requires both governance and management skills and aptitudes. The Ministries have overlapping and sometimes competing priorities, within a context of limited financial resources. This new Ministry shall ensure government policy becomes operational reality. CPA shall ensure absolute focus on the appropriate priorities, strategic and operational coordination between Ministries and efficient implementation of adopted policies. The culture of the unity government would be one of effective delivery, practical outputs and worthwhile outcomes; not the current status quo of ostentation, superficial ceremony and bureaucratic haughtiness.

·         Secretary-General & Head of the Civil Service (ex officio) (SG)

The Secretary-General  & Head of the Civil Service shall attend cabinet meetings in an ex-officio capacity. The office of SG shall work closely with CPA to ensure effective and efficient development, implementation, review and improvement of government policy.

Fellow Gambians,

When elected, I, Ousainu Numukunda Darboe, shall immediately appoint ‘‘a Cabinet of all talents’’ comprising of capable Gambians from diverse background and ensure a smooth and seamless democratic transfer of power from Yahya Jammeh to a UDP led unity government. I and my Cabinet shall initiate a programme of national reflection, reconciliation and restoration, and implement the unity government’s ‘First 100 Days Reform’ which will reflect the economic, social and political priorities of this country.

The task of delivering ‘development with dignity’ will not be easy. The unity government will need help from every Gambian and from friends of The Gambia across the world.

As a country, we should be proud and thankful that we are blessed with talented, able and committed citizens. There are many Gambians ready and willing to provide their professional expertise, practical experience, and operational competence to transform our country into a beacon of socio-economic success and a haven of justice, freedom, discipline and patriotism.

If elected, I shall tap into this resource pool and shall ask knowledgeable Gambians to advice my administration and help identify Gambian experts living both within and outside the country.

Let us all pray that the Almighty Allah helps and guides us towards a peaceful change of government and to help us deliver DEVELOPMENT with DIGNITY to the Gambian people, a destiny we all deserve.

Enough is Enough; It is time for change; It is time for Development with Dignity.

LONG LIVE the UDP Led Alliance!!

And God Bless the Republic of The Gambia!!

====

THE END

A.N.M. Ousainu Darboe

Presidential Candidate

UDP/GMC/PPP Alliance

Banjul, The Gambia

 ‘‘You have the choice to vote for freedom and a peace of mind or vote for a continued suppression’’. These were the words of Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, the UDP Leader, during a meeting held at Farafenni, Sarra Kunda, Kaur and Nianni Sukuta in the North Bank Region and Central River Region of the Gambia respectively as campaign fever heats the country.

Darboe told Rural Gambians that the choice now lies in their hands as the Gambia gears up to yet another historic Presidential Election to determine the fate of all Gambians. He said if Gambians fails to vote for the UDP and its alliance partners, they will see themselves in a hand that will be very disappointing as the recent developments in the Gambia should be an eye opener to all but more specially, the rural electorates.  ''The Gambia needs an administration that will discuss issues with the people and empower them in all activities of the state but not an administration that monopolizes their development issues.''

 He told the people in the respective rallies to recognize the UDP and partners saying that these are the people who are committed and ready to liberate them from bad administration. According to him, the present Gambian situation is in the light but now the choice is left with the people who he said are affected in one way or the other as all the families are now affected by Jammeh's mal-administration and tyranny. ''We should make a stop to this if we want to have our dignity restored back.'' He told rural Gambians.

On women and youth, he said they have a crucial role to play in unseating Jammeh out from power saying that you people knows it better than me the difficulties you are encountering in your communities.

Mai Fatty of the GMC called on Gambians to reflect their minds back from seventeen years of Jammeh's misrule. He noted that the Gambia is too good for Jammeh type misrule and tyranny; emphasizing that the only man to end it all is Darboe.  ''I am convince that on November 24, most Gambians will vote for Darboe as they have now wake up from their slumbering.'' he noted.

The lawyer Cum Politician said the world is now changing and the Gambia is no exception noting that with the help of god there, will be a change in the Gambia comes November 24.

Shyngle Nyassi and other speakers also echoed similar remarks in all the rallies.

(Reporting by Sulayman Darboe, editing by Fatou Gaye)

Publisher; United Democratic Party

Lawyer Ousainou Darboe has told party supporters and Gambians at large rally to vote for the UDP as the country prepares for the November 24 Election if they wanted to be free from hunger, dictatorship and inhumanity. Darboe was speaking at mass political rallies held in Essau, Ndukukebbeh, Batanding Wollof, Salikene, Saba and Kachang. He said if Gambians want to be liberated, they should vote for him in order for their sufferings to end with immediate effect.

 He said The Gambia which used to be one of the most peaceful nations in the world is today seen as the worst due to nothing but bad governance under dictator Jammeh and his cohorts. ''Our nation’s destiny lies in our hands as this Election is the only chance we have in order to get free from bad administration.''

He noted that the Gambia as at present has lost her vital credibility thanks to the bad deeds of dictator Jammeh who has suppress all Gambians  for his selfish interest.

''I am convinced that this Election will be an Election with a difference as all Gambians knows the present condition which is affecting all including APRC supporters.'' In fact most of them are living in a state of sorrow.

According to Darboe, the UDP when voted into office will not witch-hunt any one but ill instead advocate for reconciliation as well as putting the Gambia back to track.

He told supporters to be law abiding and toil for the development of the nation as the UDP always stand for peace, justice and progress.

Mai Fatty of GMC who storms the campaign trail unexpectedly, also gave similar remarks whiles making his first address in Kachang in Upper Baddibu

The tour continues

(Reporting by Sulayman Darboe, editing by Fatou Gaye)

Publisher: United Democratic Party

The Leader of the United Democratic Party and presidential candidate, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, has told thousands of party supporters and sympathisers that The Gambia's problem at present is nothing other than Yahya Jammeh.  Addressing a Mass rally at Ebony Junction in Serrekunda Monday, attended by an overwhelming crowd in their thousands, Darboe posited that the economic hardship and other sufferings facing average Gambians is as a result of Jammeh's Evil Work, saying that the Gambia under Jammeh has lost her credibility within the sub region and the globe at large. ‘‘Enough is Enough’, a change of leadership will take effects come November 24, 2011 with the help of the Almighty. He declared. See below the full text of Darboe’s speech;

By Malang Fatty
13th November, 2011, the United Democratic Party (UDP) and its party sympathizers converged at Ousainou Darboe’s compound at Kairaba Avenue, to begin their campaign of the day. At sharp 12:30pm, they drove through Kairaba Avenue, West field, Tabokoto and Brikama

The convoy had a brief stop at Brikama – Gunjur junction to announce that they are going to Kafuta, Faraba and Pirang, but will have to come back for a meeting in Brikama in the evening.
They had their first meeting of the day at Kafuta shortly after their arrival.

The meeting was opened by the minority leader of the National Assembly, Modou Sanneh, of Kiang west, with a prayer. With his opening remarks, he commended the UDP party chairman at Kafuta and the people of Kafuta and its surrounding for their support. The minority leader, called on the people of Kafuta to vote for Lawyer Ousainou Darboe in this forthcoming Presidential Election. He warned the people of a campaign to extol President Jammeh as king, “voting for APRC this year will be a welcome to a never ending rule of jammeh family in the Gambia,” said Modou Sanneh. He told the people of Kafuta not to give their votes to the Gambian leader who ventures into all kinds of business. He promised a presidential term limit of 10 years in the event that they are victorious.

The United Democratic Party leader, Osainou Darboe, reminded the people about the seizure of the only garden by the regime. He added that this garden is now used by Kharafi as a station. “This has brought nothing but hunger to the people of Kafuta,” said Mr Darboe. He urged everyone to vote without fear. The UDP leader assured the people of Kafuta that Basiru Jedjur and Co’s campaign for Jammeh’s to be extolled as king will not stand to the test.

The UDP campaign team later proceeded to Faraba for a short meeting. On arrival at Faraba Manokang, they were welcome by a large crowd at the village square, where they held their second meeting of the day. Modou Sanneh, the minority leader opened the meeting by greeting the party’s village chairman, Omar Bah. “Our votes are powerful and capable of unseating president Jammeh. I challenged the popular misconception that votes can never unseat presidents. Look at our sister country Senegal, where Wade removed Abdoulie Diuof from the seat by election. So let us not listen to wishful thinking,” said the minority leader.

Omar Bah, the Chairman of UDP at Faraba, called for people to support UDP to rescue Gambians from bondage, hunger and hardship by voting for the UDP. He said they needed a peaceful change by electing Darboe in to office.

The outspoken opposition stalwart, Dembo Bojang known as Dembo By- Force, said Kombo will rally behind Darboe at all times.

“Gambians should be the judge to the debate that says; are Gambians living in good-life or no? Do we need so called infrastructural development or food self-sufficiency?”

Courtesy of foroyaa

The leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, has told Party Supporters in the West Coast Region Villages of Kafuta, Faraba, Pirang and Brikama Town respectively that the November Polls is to end dictatorship, economic hardship, tyranny, lawlessness and human suffering in the tiny West African Nation. Darboe was addressing the respective rallies ahead of the November Polls, saying that these elections will be decisive election for Gambians in terms of liberating themselves from the APRC oppression.

He said the APRC regime under Jammeh has only brought sufferings to the people noting that the price of basic and essential commodities are skyrocketing day by day couple with other forms of inhuman sufferings. ''If you want development with dignity, vote for the UDP as this is the only party that can end the inhuman sufferings,'' he told supporters.

The Lawyer Cum Politician noted that the present Gambia's situation needs to end as people have lost confidence in the governance system since they do not have the right to express themselves. He urged the Gambian Youthful Population and the Women Folk to disown Jammeh who he said is only exploiting them and not empowering them.

The UDP government, according to him, will create a youth entrepreneurship development scheme for the young people, which will serves as a mechanism for providing job opportunities for the youths and will ease the burden on them searching for greener pastures elsewhere.

Darboe also told supporters that the UDP administration will not cripple the Agriculture, Education, Trade, Fisheries and the Foreign Affairs but will instead promote the value of democracy and the principles of humanity which  we have lost under Jammeh.'' The choice now is yours as you are to vote between progress and hardship.''

He stated that the APRC regime has done a lot of havoc to Gambians and it is high time for all these malpractices to end and for Gambians to liberate themselves from such acts.

Tourism and other important sectors that have been destroyed by Jammeh and his associates will be restored with dignity as well as equality before the law for all Gambians.

 Lawyer Draboe also called on supporters to maintain the peace and stability; assuring them that with the help of Allah, the UDP will surely be victorious since Gambians are ready for change through democratic means. He also pointed out that no one will be allowed to do nonsense to the UDP.

Other speakers include Syngle Nyassi, Lamin Dibba, Dembo By Force Bojang and Kemeseng Jammeh who all echoed similar remarks; calling on Gambians and  the Youth and Women in particular to vote massively for the UDP and Lawyer Ousainu Darboe.

Similar meetings were held in Sukuta, Jambur, Latriya, Farato and Busumbala where Darboe gave similar statements.

Darboe and his delegation are expected to hold a mass Political Rally at Ebony Junction Monday November 14, 2011 before crossing to the North Bank Region of The Gambia Tuesday for the Provincial Tour.

(Reporting by Sulayman Darboe, editing by Fatou Gaye)

Publisher: United Democratic Party

GMC PRESS STATEMENT

GMC National Working Committee, pursuant to the powers granted under its Constitution, and in conformity with its Declaration of Intent of 7^th November 2010, has resolved to throw its weight behind the candidature of Hon. Ousainu Darboe of the United Democratic Party within the framework an opposition political Alliance. Therefore, GMC as a full fledge Alliance partner, shall participate effectively in all electoral and electioneering activities throughout the country, in coordination with our Alliance partners to assure electoral victory.

I call on all GMC Party militants throughout the country to come out in their strongest numbers to vote massively for the Alliance Candidate, Hon. Ousainu Darboe. I ask you all to defend your citizenship, make sure that your votes count, and defend your national dignity. I ask you to rise up to the challenge, be as vigilant as a serpent, defend the honour of our national sovereignty, the integrity of our Republican State, and stand firm in defense of the entrenched provisions of our Constitution. Let me assure you all, that the best alternative among all candidates is Hon. Ousainu Darboe. With him, we stand to build a New Gambia that will be the envy of Africa and the world.

I take this opportunity to express our serious disappointment that GMC has not been successful in clearing its campaign materials from the Gambia Customs who require a letter from the IEC to enable them process the cargo. We are even more disappointed that the IEC has refused to issue such supporting letter, in response to our request. The said letter, signed by Chairman Mustapha Carayol, referenced AGC 61/87/02(109), dated the 9^th November 2011 addressed to us, categorically denies responsibility. The Elections Decree mandates the IEC to facilitate the clearance of campaign materials. Its refusal to issue such a supporting letter to GMC to enable us clear our campaign materials does not augur well. We hope that the IEC shall place itself in the position to conduct a credible election.

In conclusion, I urge all Gambians to exercise their right to vote in a peaceful and orderly manner. Gambians are peace-loving citizens. Let us nurture the peace and stability that we the citizens of this Nation have created in our country. Do not respond to provocation, but defend your legitimate rights. Peace is our most valuable asset. Let us cherish it. Let us preserve it. There is nothing as precious as peace.

Long Live the Republic of The Gambia! Long Live Africa! Long Live The Alliance!

Dated the 9^th day of November 2011.

Hon. Mai Ahmad Fatty, Esq

In this exclusive interview with our editor-in-chief, Saikou Jammeh ahead of this year’s decisive presidential election, the leader of main opposition UDP, Ousainou Darboe talks on a range of issues. Read on

You said president Jammeh will be voted out come Nov.24 presidential polls. Who will unseat him?

My party has gone across the country and has very intensive contact with the grassroots. We know that the people are disenchanted and my party, UDP and its alliance partners will serve as the vehicle for the change they are yearning.

Even without a bigger alliance of non ruling party aligned opposition parties?

Prior to the recent talks for a united front, my party has been on the ground and we know the state of affairs. The standard of education is low; salaries have been stagnant whilst the cost of living is on the rise. There is no guarantee of power supply and what is even worse is that president Jammeh is competing with market women in the vending of vegetables and other small consumables. So people are really fed up and want to get rid of him.

You sound so upbeat about victory, but this is contrary to what is seen in the surface. The views expressed in media generally favours Jammeh, less you unite?

Don’t be carried away by all the euphoria around president Jammeh. In January that was the sort of euphoria around Al Qathafi of Libya and Ben Ali of Tunisia. But beneath the euphoria, there is a deep seated discontent.

I am confident because I know what is on the ground - what’s prevailing in the countryside and in Banjul.

Of course, we can’t ignore the call for a greater alliance because the greater the number, the greater our chances. Infact, if we all come together, it will reduce ruling APRC to nothing.

Who are these your alliance partners when some of your traditional allies such as NRP and GMC, who declared support for a UDP-led alliance were said to vote against the proposal for a UDP-led united front?

As far as GMC is concern, I don’t want to make any comment. I know the leadership had made a public pronouncement in support of my candidature and I know the position GMC took during the recent talks.

Also, I can’t speak for NRP, but my recollection on that Friday was that NRP said, it will consult with the proponents of the convention because they did not understand all its intricacies and then discuss with UDP. I was myself taken aback when I saw that NRP voted for the convention. The feature will tell. But that notwithstanding, we are in partnership with PPP.

Who are the proponents of the convention?

Well, PDOIS is the proponent and gets solid support from NADD and GPDP.

And did NRP consult you as promised?

I have since then not consulted.

What then are the potentials for UDP to exploit to unseat Jammeh?

Our potential lies in the mal governance of the Jammeh administration in every aspect – ranging from political governance to economic.

That takes me to this question: how is UDP very much like and unlike APRC as a party?

It is the commitment and political will; the sincerity and faithfulness. That is where we differ. Well, in theory we all share in common a view for a better Gambia

How would a UDP government be like?

A UDP government would ensure that every citizen is treated with dignity; no citizen is subjected to degradation on account of his or her political affiliation or tribal lineage. We will ensure that opportunities are made available to all Gambians irrespective of origin.
When I become president of this country, I would not single out people from Niani and Fulladu for scholarship as you have the Foni students association where people of Foni are being catered for.

We will make sure the quality of education is improved because we want to prepare a nation that will be competitive in this modern world and such a nation can only be prepared on a sound education footing.

We want to make sure hospitals are well stocked with medication. I invite anyone to go off the main trunk roads and go into places like Nianija, Fulladu, Sami and even in Kombo and Banjul. Look at the Kairaba avenue road; everything is in a state of decay.

In any case, all development starts with the development of human beings and we will make sure that the people are not only fed, but are fed with good quality food.

How prepared is UDP towards the election?

I would not tell you we will win if we are not prepared.

But election is a month away, yet the political temperature is not as hot as expected?

That is because there has been a change in our tactics. Those days there were big rallies, but that is not the case now. We will of course hold rallies, infact we will have one on the 29 of this month, but real work is being done not through rallies, but through effective intensified grassroots contact.

When you say grassroots do you mean door to door?

In some places it is house to house. And in some places it is ward to ward

What of the political environment, does it now allow opposition parties to go about with their activities unhindered?

Since the removal of former Inspector General of Police [Ensa Badjie], we’ve not had any problem with securing permit to hold rallies.

Not only the permit issue, but the fairness or otherwise of election is linked to the independence of the judiciary, electoral commission and public media should provide access to all parties. Are these available?


Let me say that in the past few days, IEC has initiated efforts geared towards making the public media accessible to all parities even before the campaign period. I wish the efforts of the chairman will bear fruit.

We had had meetings with some security units and representatives of GRTS and IEC chairperson has impressed upon them that there is need for them to allow other views to be aired on national media.

And we have been given assurance by GTRS that provided that materials are available, they will do what is expected of them.

Who is to provide those materials?

Well, it’s GRTS because they did not expect parties to provide them with cameras and transport.

It seems you are building confidence in the integrity of IEC because the last time I had an interview with you, ahead of your party’s congress last year, you expressed almost a total lack of confidence?



That is because at the time, my view of the IEC was very much influenced by the attitude of the IEC. Now that there is a change, we should praise them for that. And I believe that positive impression would grow.

What else would you applaud IEC for?

On the security aspect, too. Infact, the chairman asks us to send our request to police and GRTS and copy his office. I am sure he wants to make sure that requests are granted. That is positive.

What of the country’s justice system?

The judiciary is not one of the institutions that formed part of the electoral process. It only becomes part of it when adjudicating on election petitions, for instance, on fraud.

Yea, when matters of such arise, will you hesitate to resort to the courts?

At the level of the Supreme Court, I have no doubt that if there is credible evidence about electoral flaws, it would be adjudicated upon. I have no doubt in the integrity of the current panel under chief justice Agim.

Now that some of the rough edges have been smoothened, what are some of the existing challenges?

The shortness of the period of the campaign is a challenge.

Do you have all the required funding for your activities?

UDP belongs to the people. Its membership and leadership are funding it. We will put up a descent campaign and unseat Jammeh.

We are not as fortunate as APRC that gets 1.5 million dalasi from a Mauritanian for campaigns. That is unfortunate.

But there are allegations you go to Europe and U.S to beg for funding?

That is rubbish. We got our funds from Gambians. We have chapters in Washington, Seattle, Maryland and various cities in U.S. We have one in France, UK and recently in Spain. These are people affected by the Jammeh administration’s mal governance. They could not vote but can contribute.

You have only one chance to unseat Jammeh. What is your take on this?

You are personalising issues, Mr Jammeh and that is not right. It is UDP that is contesting. I just happen to be a candidate. My situation should not be the focus.

But there is a general notion that the life of political parties hinges on the life of their leaders. We’ve seen instances when leaders died, the party died. Is UDP different?

That’s I’m saying. You can ask even those who were part of us and have now left, they will tell you that UDP is not run as a personal fief.

UDP will not wither away when the current crop of leadership exit the political scene. APRC is one such party where chairman can fire and hire any time. But if I disagree with Shyngle Nyassi, I cannot fire him because he was elected.

How do you respond to claims that UDP is tribal party?

I am somehow elated that they could not criticise the viability of my party’s programmes and they have nothing to say against us except to say that we are a tribal party.

If tribalism is operating in The Gambia, Jammeh will never be president. Before he became president, we fought against tribalism and anyone who wants to base his political survival on tribe is committing the most serious mistake.

Jammeh cannot escape the fact that majority of my supporters are Mandinkas just as majority of his supporters are Mandinka even though he is not a Mandinka.
But we have fewer Jola supporters.

If there is anyone who makes comments that offend other tribes, it is Jammeh, who consistently makes statements that offends even his Mandinka supporters.

Tell me some reasons why Gambians should turn their back on president Jammeh come Nov.24?

The cost of living is skyrocketing when salary levels remain stagnant. Pensioners cannot afford a bag of rice yet they go to the market as millionaires. The entire economy of the country is, but single-handedly managed by president Jammeh, who is in business of selling meat, vegetables, rice and sugar and so on to the extent that he doesn’t have enough time for matters at State House.

Statement from the Secretary General of the United Democratic Party

Lawyer A.N.M. Ousainu Darboe

Tuesday, 25^th October 2011 – Banjul, The Gambia

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH; IT IS TIME FOR DEVELOPMENT WITH DIGNITY

Fellow Gambians,

As we prepare for the presidential elections on 24th November 2011, it is with great humility and abundance of honour, that I address you as Secretary General and leader of the United Democratic Party.

Wherever you are today, be it in the farms or gardens toiling to feed your family, be it in workshops or factories sweating for an honest living, be it in schools or madrasas teaching our children; Behold the good news!

It is time to say Enough is Enough; it is time to demand development with dignity; it is time for change for a better Gambia. You can use your vote to end the tyranny and the curse of the Jammeh administration.

By your own hand and your own deed, you shall usher in a new Gambia that will be the pride of our children and generations yet unborn; a new Gambia united in purpose, a new Gambia whose citizens enjoy development with dignity. By your own vote, you can safeguard and guarantee a better future for your children and grandchildren.

Fellow Gambians,

Enough is Enough!

The seventeen years of Yahya Jammeh’s administration is a curse to this country; you know it in your minds; you feel it in your hearts; you whisper about it in your bedrooms and your workplaces. Behold the good news!

By your votes, you will on the 24^th November, 2011 bring an end to President Jammeh’s tyrannical administration.

With your votes, 24^th November, 2011 shall be a date of rejoice, revival and restoration;

With your votes, 24^th November, 2011 shall be a date of democratic deliverance for our beloved Gambia;

With your votes, 24^th November, 2011 shall be a historic date that our progeny will remember as the day that heroic Gambians ended the curse of Yahya Jammeh through the power of the ballot box;

With your votes, 24^th November, 2011 shall be Gambia’s AUTUMN REVOLUTION.

Fellow citizens,

To every curse endured, there is a blessing waiting; to all suffering there is respite and reprieve; to the doom and gloom of Yahya Jammeh, there is the waiting glory and grace of the unity government that the UDP shall give to the deserving people of The Gambia.

Let us give thanks to the Almighty Allah and reaffirm our faith in His omniscience, His will and His Mercy as Gambia ends the curse of Yahya Jammeh and his insensitive government. Enough is Enough! It is time for CHANGE! It is time for DEVELOPMENT with DIGNITY!

Fellow citizens,

Your vote is a talisman; the talisman to break the curse.

Your vote is a passport; the passport that takes you to a brighter future of national pride.

Your vote is a key; the key that opens up the doors to meritocratic opportunities.

Do not sell your future by accepting bribes of any form from President Jammeh and his cliques!

Do not dissipate or destroy the inheritance of your children and grandchildren!

Do not continue Gambia’s curse by voting Yahya Jammeh into office again!

Fellow Gambians, 

On the appointed day of 24^th November, 2011, you can make your solemn and democratic pact with destiny by voting for UDP and its alliance partners; on the appointed day of 24^th November, 2011 you can usher in a unity government; a government that will deliver DEVELOPMENT with DIGNITY.

Today, Tuesday, 25th^th October 2011, I, Ousainu Numukunda Darboe, Secretary General of the United Democratic Party; Native of the village of Niani Dobo Karanbantang, in the conurbation of Bansang; Resident of Bakau constituency; Father to five girls and one boy; Husband of Maimuna Ndure Darboe and Salimata Bouvier Darboe; Barrister of the Supreme Courts of The Gambia and Nigeria; Humble servant of the people of The Gambia, hereby make my solemn and eternal pledge to you the men, women and children of The Gambia, that when elected, my party and its alliance partners shall serve you conscientiously, diligently and assiduously.

When elected, my party and its alliance partners will serve our motherland with steely resolution and single-minded purposefulness. We shall eradicate every vestige of bad governance. The administration I head will have zero-tolerance for human rights abuses, injustice and corruption, and this will be with NO IFs OR BUTs!

When elected, I shall conduct the affairs of our nation with maturity, wisdom and good counsel.  We shall bring decorum, humility, maturity and dignity to the exalted office of the president and excoriate every scintilla of presidential buffoonery. In our administration, there will be zero-tolerance of megalomaniacal grandiosity and profligacy.

When elected, we shall rule the Republic of The Gambia with benevolence and magnanimity. There shall be a positive disposition to ensure Gambian development with dignity. In our government, there shall be abundance of appetite for reconciliation, unity of purpose and collective action.

Fellow Gambians,

Today, Tuesday 25^th October 2011, I, Ousainu Numukunda Darboe, hereby implore each and every voter to go out on 24^th November, 2011 and vote massively for the United Democratic Party and its alliance partners so that we can together put in place an administration that will steer the affairs of The Gambia without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and shall do right to all manner of people.

Let us all pray that the Almighty Allah helps and guides us towards a peaceful change of government and to help us deliver DEVELOPMENT with DIGNITY to the Gambian people, a destiny we all deserve.

LONG LIVE United Democratic Party!!

God Bless the Republic of The GAMBIA!!

====

THE END

A.N.M Ousainu Darboe

Secretary General and Party Leader

United Democratic Party

Banjul, The Gambia

The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Monday 17th October 2011 held a press conference at the Party’s Political bureau in Banjul, the capital city of the Gambia. The Secretary General and party leader, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe indicated that the issue of a United Front is not strange to Gambians. He said in early 2000, Gambians in the Diaspora have championed the course for a united front for the Opposition. He told the press in the midst of party supporters and sympathizers that the laudable initiative on the part of the UDP has led to the holding of a Conference which ultimately gave birth to NADD.

Mr. Darboe stated that NADD didn’t work and as the November election is fast approaching, there have been a lot of talk in the media among individuals that it is time that the opposition parties get together and try to form a united front. He said people have advanced decision on the issue of a united front, but no initiative was taken formally to convene a meeting for talks on the issue. He said the Executive of the United Democratic Party gave him directive to invite opposition parties to get together and discuss the issue of a united front.
He said a letter was issued to all the opposition parties and signed by the Administrative Secretary of the party on the 11th of August 2011 at a time when he was not in town, but that when he came back, he made a follow up by issuing a letter dated 23rd August 2011 to all the opposition parties inviting them to come together to form a united front and also to discuss the modality of selecting a flag bearer. Darboe asserted that the meeting started on the 3rd of September 2011: adding that he had hoped that they could have done it so that by Koriteh time, they would have concluded.

He said that they did not agree on a common candidate and that they have agreed that consultation can still continue and that they must continue to respect each other; that they must continue to be very circumspect with statements that they made; statements that will have effect in creating difficulty for some parties in getting together.

Concession

But it is quite obvious, he said, that their position was one of a party led and they have argued and will continue to argue that the accepted norm throughout the world is that when parties are coming together to form an alliance, it is the party with the majority that takes up the leadership and lead the other parties in the alliance and contest the election.

Mr. Darboe noted that the UDP has accommodated in their proposal, the 5yr transition and all the attendant conditions that PDOIS articulated in their Agenda 2011. Notwithstanding this, those calling for a convention to select a flagbearer were still not inclined to accommodate any element of UDP’s proposal, he added. He also indicated that he respects other views but that they did not see anything wrong with their view.

Addressing Concerns

Darboe asserted that some have said that a party led alliance can or would lead to the withering away of the constituent parties and they have responded to say that what they have agreed upon is that when they (UDP) win election, the media will be opened to every party and that even when an alliance Government is in office, all the other parties will have access to the media to sell their programmes and convince the people on the viability of their policies. He said it is not as if one is leaving everything until at the end of the five years and then one opens the media. “So where is the withering away of the constituent parties?”, he asked.  And again he said during National Assembly Elections, parties will field candidates in constituencies where they have more supporters than others and in this way, he said, even during the transition, parties will make their presence felt.

Darboe asserted that probably those calling for a convention will arrange a convention among themselves- those allegedly agreeing to a convention and he said he is using the word allegedly very adversely notwithstanding the signing of the press release by all parties because he is not sure if NRP is supporting a convention- so that the consultation will be between the convention candidate and the UDP.

Darboe asserted that it is not time for the opposition to engage in a debate because the Gambia has a problem that is solvable by what they have put forward and that they do not say that it is the only solution, but it is a solution that is reasonable and universally accepted.

In conclusion, Darboe said he is appealing to PDOIS, GPDP and NRP to reconsider their position and that come 24th November, Jammeh will be out because the very people who are saying 99 percent are the ones who will not vote for him. In fact, you will see a group of APRC women cross-carpeting to the UDP soon, he concluded.

Source: United Democratic Party

www.udpgambia.com

Join the Vote Lawyer Darboe 2011 Campaign on facebook;http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/163686343716685/

UDP United Kingdom was founded in February 2010 as an affiliated body of the United Democratic Party (UDP), The Gambia’s largest opposition party. The group was formulated by Gambian citizens living in The United Kingdom, who are concerned by the degrading state of democracy and governance in their country, The Gambia, since the military coup that brought President Yaya Jammeh to power in July, 1994.

UDP United Kingdom having recognised the level of threat the APRC regime poses to The Gambia’s notoriety as a peace loving and just society which has hitherto been a forerunner of democracy and democratic values in the African continent, is concerned that;

        I.            President Jammeh came to power, first and foremost, by force of arms and has since continued to use threats to bully the Gambian people to submit to his rule.

      II.            The APRC government has established a sham democracy in The Gambia, with a parliament made up of the president’s cronies and stooges who rubber stamp everything he brings to the House and dance to his tunes all night long.

    III.            The APRC regime disenfranchised Gambian citizens living abroad, who contribute tremendously to national development, by denying them their constitutional right to vote in public elections. All countries in our sub-region have preserved the voting right of all their citizens whether living at home or abroad.

    IV.            The APRC regime consistently works toward the destruction of opposition parties and any other progressive movement that holds divergent and dissenting views to that of the government.

      V.            The regime is also hell-bent on muzzling press freedom with utter disregard to due process. The arbitrary closure of the Private FM Radio Stations, Citizen FM and Stud FM, and the Independent Newspaper are typical examples. 

    VI.           

  VII.            Poor management of the Gambian economy characterised by excessive borrowing and conspicuous consumption, is fuelling hardship for ordinary citizens who have to endure daily increases in cost of basic commodities and services.

VIII.            Meanwhile, President Jammeh who in the early days of his unlawful usurpation of power, campaigned on the slogan of fighting to end corruption and the flamboyant indulgence of public servants has now become one of the richest and certainly the most flamboyant political leader in our sub-region.

    IX.            The politicized nature of the Gambian Public and Civil Service is encouraging the type of political bullying that is forcing many public and civil servants as well as members of the security forces to personally deliver free labour on the president’s many farms.

      X.            President Jammeh, as head of state and government, also has his business tentacles extended virtually to every sector of the Gambian economy competing with small farmers, bakers, transporters, butchers- the list goes on, and often pushing them out of business and their livelihood.

We urge all Gambians to take cognisance of the fact that every day, month and year of President Jammeh and APRC misrule is sowing seeds of long term damage to the tranquillity of our society and thereby putting the future of our children and grand children at risk.

We therefore have a historic responsibility as Gambians, to work together and save the future of our great country, The Gambia. In that respect, UDP UK calls on all Gambians, both at home and abroad, to join the UDP and its leader, Alhagi A.N.M Ousainu Darboe Esq., in their bid to constitutionally remove the APRC government from power in these forthcoming November 24^th 2011 presidential elections. We consider this to be the fierce urgency of now.

The United Democratic Party has pledged, if elected, to [among other things]:

- Make credible political and constitutional reforms that would nurture in a vibrant democratic society based on respect for the rule of law and the fundamental principles of democratic representation, and in which citizens are able to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms without undue state interference.

- Introduce a presidential term limit into the constitution [this would be an entrenched clause] as a way of ending the culture of self perpetuating rule.

- Strengthen and safeguard the independence and integrity of the judiciary particularly the criminal justice system.

- Make tangible investment in the productive sectors of the economy so as to stimulate growth, and to judiciously appropriate taxpayers’ money.

- Create an environment conducive for enabling Gambians of every background to participate effectively in the socio- economic and political developments of their country.

- Extend voting right to every Gambian living abroad.

- Adopt a decentralised form of local government administration that provides significant autonomy to our local government institution.

- End the culture of impunity and restore the dignity and respect the country has lost in the world community.

2011 Presidential Election; the Defining Moment

UDP United Kingdom is currently co-sponsoring series of political activities and programmes aimed at re-enforcing UDP’s preparations for the forthcoming November 24^th 2011 Presidential Elections. These include nation-wide tours, regional tours, Voter Engagement Initiatives and constituency based programmes. These programmes and activities are currently doing well and are making all the pre-requisite difference for potential victory and thus, need to be sustained until elections day.

The solution to the difficult circumstance we face as a nation is in our collective hands. That being the case, all of us must assign ourselves a role in the shaping of our country’s future. It is for this reason that UDP United Kingdom is urging all Gambians living in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe to assert ownership as sovereign citizens, and join us in an aggressive fundraising campaign to support, fund and help sustain these ongoing programmes of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Anyone interested in making donation[s] to the UDP 2011 Campaign or would like to support any of our programmes is hereby urged to contact the UK coordinator, Mr. Suntou Touray, by email; gambiafor@gmail.com or phone; [mobile] 07411248764 [house line] 02476659290.

Those Gambians living in the United States of America, who would also want to donate or contribute in the process of defeating Jammeh constitutionally, can contact the following officials of UDP USA; Ebriama Dibba;(001) 206-250-3822 or Musa Kanteh; (001) 907-830-5125. You can also email their funding raising committee; udpfund2011@gmail.com or pay your donations straight into their account; Name: Gambia Democracy Movement, State: New York, Account #: 4830-3384-8047.

Mr. Kebba Sanneh will be coordinating our fundraising activities in Sweden and can be contacted by email; nyanchor22@hotmail.com.

We look forward to seeing the cooperation of every progressive Gambian in this noble course and together; we shall not only defeat Yahya Jammeh on November 24^th 2011, we will change The Gambia for better and for good.

Thank you.
 

Long lived the United Democratic Party!!!

And long lived The Republic of The Gambia!!!

The End.

Issued by UDP United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

10^th October 2011

Join the Vote Lawyer Darboe 2011 Campaign on facebook; http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/163686343716685/ 

The leader of the United Democratic Party, Lawyer Ousainu Darboe has called on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to extend the campaign period for the forthcoming November 24^th 2011elections as the stipulated 11 days period is grossly inadequate and puts the opposition in a disadvantaged position.  

Addressing an IEC organised press conference, Lawyer Darboe told the IEC chairman, in the presence of the entire press corps that it is not unprecedented in this world for election dates to be announced and postponed. He also stated that the law doesn’t say that when campaign periods are declared, it is not subject to change. ‘‘I think the commission should be pragmatic about this, because this can be changed and it should be changed. Why do we have a shorter period,” he added.

According to Darboe, the opposition can go out to campaign, but the main issue is that of having coverage by the national television. “We have seen the APRC having access to the television every minute of the day, selling their ideas and programmes, which we do not have,” he said.

Darboe believes that having access to the state media will give an indication that elections in The Gambia are really free and fair, and not something that has been done just to go through the motions. He noted that it is not immutable that IEC cannot change the campaign period, unless the Commission says that they are not going to change.

“The IEC should not fail its responsibility of having those who registered more than once face the consequences of the law, and that their names should be deleted. They have committed a crime, and they should not be allowed to benefit from the fruits of their crime,” Mr. Darboe went on, adding that they must face the consequences or otherwise the IEC will be compromising its credibility, and that would not bring feathers to their cap.

Courtesy of The Point.

Picture; Lawyer Ousainu Darboe E.s.q

As the build-up to the forthcoming presidential election gathers pace, the minority leader and member for Kiang West, Hon. Momodou LK Sanneh, has vowed that the Lower River Region, particularly the constituencies of Kiang Central, Kiang West and Jarra Central, will remain opposition strongholds.

Sanneh, who is also the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) regional coordinator for the Lower River Region, was speaking in an interview with this reporter yesterday.

According to him, despite the fact that the APRC is focusing in the Lower River Region in the coming polls, the people of the region have and will continue to say “No” to its leadership.

Ahead of the polls slated for 24th November, the ruling APRC has its eyes focused on the LRR with a view to securing the constituencies of Kiang West, Kiang Central and Jarra West, but analysts say any shift in their political allegiance will mean a lot in the country’s political history.

“Those so-called Kiangkas who are working for the APRC ahead of the polls cannot make any influence in Kiang West and LRR, in particular. They are just deceiving the APRC leadership. They can neither penetrate LRR nor can they mislead the people, because the people of the region are politically matured, and no one can fool them,” he said.

While assuring Gambians that the people of his region will remain behind the opposition, Sanneh stated that what matters are the people of the region themselves.

He also called on the people of Kiang West, Kiang Central, Jarra Central and LRR, in particular, to make an assessment of the APRC regime.

“What have the people of LLR benefitted from the 17 years of rule of the APRC administration?” he asked.

“All those developments that the APRC is talking about are mere lip service, because all that comes through tax payers monies. It is either a loan or a grant, which of course will be paid back by Gambians as loans,” Sanneh added.

In his view, it makes no sense in telling Gambians that, if a particular region does not vote for you, that region will not have development.

“It is because of the people that the APRC is in office, and it is their monies that the government is using to bring about development projects,” he pointed out.

Author: Lamin B. Darboe

Source: Picture: Momodou LK Sanneh

Courtesy of The Point

The leader of the opposition United Democratic Party has turned his focus on the economic situation of the country, stressing that the country’s economy as at now is not functioning as expected. Ousainou Darboe, who spoke in an interview with this reporter, at the weekend, said if that is not the case, the poverty level in the country would not have been at its peak. “People are not able to take care of themselves because of the worse economic situation in this country. Frankly speaking, poverty is on the increase looking at the number of beggars on the streets, the high unemployment, among others,” Darboe said.

While citing the recent results of the Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination, the UDP leader said quality education has also deteriorated in the country. “It is very disappointing to hear the news of the results. This shows that quality education is decreasing in the country, and these are the issues that any responsible government has to address,” he stated.

Commenting on the issue of an opposition alliance ahead of the 24th November presidential polls, Darboe stated that opposition parties are engaged in discussions, but declined to elaborate further. “I can only confirm that there were meetings. I don’t want to make any comment on the outcome of our meetings,” he said.

According to him, he will never lose hope on the possibility of an opposition alliance ahead of the November polls. “I am a man who is always optimistic and who looks at the brighter side of things, and I shall remain optimistic about the possibilities of a united front,” Darboe added.

Noting that his party respects a great deal the opinions of Gambians, Darboe said the UDP like all other registered political parties in the country will contest the elections. “People tend to view political activities and the number of rallies as something very big, but rallies are not the only activity embarked upon by political parties,” he noted.

Commenting on his party’s preparations ahead of the polls, the UDP leader further stated that his party’s youth and women’s wings are out working tirelessly. He said his party will work on, among others, the country’s economy, agriculture, and for a corruption-free Gambia. “Gambians are a proud people because even with poverty on the rise, they are still contented,” he added.

Darboe also stated that his party had, and will continue to create the enabling environment for women’s participation in politics. “We have fully fledged female and youth wings, and that shows what value the UDP places on women’s participation in politics. We are appealing, and will continue to appeal for them to join the opposition vanguard,” he declared.

Source: Picture: Ousainou Darboe

Courtesy of The Point

By YAYA B.BALDEH

Members of the National Assembly have raised concerns over the lack of potable water and some of the obstacles normally encountered by commuters when plying the main roads that connect regions across the country. This, they appealed, need to be looked into in a bid to ensure that development shapes the lives of rural Gambians. These concerns were raised at the adjournment debate of the National Assembly.

In positioning the motion on adjournment, the minority leader and member for Kiang West Constituency, Hon. Momodou LK Sanneh expressed gratitude to his fellow parliamentarians for the recent successful state opening of parliament.

He further went on to express his discontent over the major feeder roads in the country. “I’m disappointed that during the Head of State’s inaugural speech at the state opening of the National Assembly, he didn’t make mention of any feeder road issues which is key in the daily movement of people in across the country,” he said.

Hon. Sanneh then appealed to the National Road Authority (NRA) and other related authorities concerned to take steps to curb the constraints.According to Sanneh, the Mandinaba-Jarra Soma road project is really a cause for concern. He noted that the president said the delay encountered on the project was as a result of a misunderstanding between a consultant and a contractor and that was why the project could not be implemented at its right time.

He asserted that this important project should not go for years without being completed, adding that The Gambia government should make sure that they attach enormous importance to the realization of this project. “It is high time the government ensured that anybody who is going to be the contractor or the consultant to work closely with the NRA for fast track and better realization of the project’s ultimate goal,” Sanneh said.

Speaking further, Hon. Momodou Sanneh launched an appeal for the provision of school buses for students in order to ease the transportation constraints for students. “If you live in Brikama while heading to Banjul to attend lectures as a student, you will stand almost for hours before getting vehicle. We should understand that these students are the future leaders of this country. School bus for schoolchildren is a necessity and it is a problem that needs to be looked into,” he said.

The minority leader also postulated that the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) is another crucial institution when it comes to the movement of people and goods and services.

According to him, some days ago ferry services were a problem at the main locations between Banjul-Barra and Banbatenda-Yerllitenda. He said that GPA needs to look into these issues because when it comes to transportation, these are the main areas which are used by people. He also revealed that it is very prudent for GPA to ensure that their ferries in the country are properly maintained and monitored for sustainability and to ease the movement of goods and services across the country.

Hon. Kebba Gaye also advanced a concern for safe drinking water for his the people of Jokadu District. He appealed to the Ministry of Water Resources to come to their aid and provide potable water.

Gaye also added his voice to the motion moved by the previous speakers. He argued that people are in dire need of good roads especially those living in the rural areas of the country. He noted that as of now, people in the provinces do not have any access to feeder roads. He then appealed to the relevant authorities to help in order to ensure easy movement of people from one destination to another.

Hon. Sainey Mbye of Upper Saloum said that the provision of drinking water in rural Gambia is a move in the right direction that needs to be looked into as soon as possible.

The deputy speaker, Hon. Fatou Mbye then called off the adjournment debate.

http://today.gm/hi/news/3283.html

The minority leader of the National Assembly and the parliamentarian for Kiang West constituency Mr Momodou Sanneh said the minister of Finance and Economic Affairs stated in his last budget speech said that parastatals have limitations to contribute to national development due to lack of funds.

Sanneh who was addressing a UDP rally at Tallinding on Saturday said the minister’s statement showed that parastatals in Gambia are on the brink of collapse.

He said the buses of The Gambia Public Transport Corporation (GPTC) have been used by the APRC as political tools until they got spoiled, rendering the country’s only public transport corporation dormant. “GPTC had facilitated transportation of people and goods across the country. There were school buses at reasonable fares,” Sanneh noted.

Sanneh also criticized the government’s habit of giving press statements to be read by the Secretary General when there is a ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said the worst thing about the statements are that they are diplomatically retrogressive.

The Kiang West parliamentarian said, the 2011 election is another important moment in the country’s political history. He said that it is a constitutional mandate for there to be an election every five years to elect a leader of Gambia.

He said every Gambian who attains the age of 18 and above has the right to acquire a voter card and to vote in any election.

The minority leader said people should come out in numbers to register in preparation of the 2011 elections and to vote.

He said it is necessary to remember that President Jammeh first came to power as usurper of power from a democratically elected government. He said, Jammeh deceived Gambians that there would be accountability, transparency, and probity which are different from the system in place.

He added that President Jammeh has told the people that he is not interested in politics, but came to correct the ills of the past, which, he said, is contradictory to his ways of governance.

Sanneh urged Gambian people to reflect by closely examining the current system in the country. He said being head of state does not mean that one has to be a ruthless leader. “Where have you seen on earth, a leader throwing biscuits on his people to scramble like hungry beasts. This is no sign of respect for the dignity of Gambian people,” he said, noting that there are many progressive ways of helping people to uplift their standards of living.

He also said that those who want to make president Jammeh president for life are not thinkers but dreamers who are just trying the impossible.  

He said chiefs have been going round the country to campaign for President Jammeh to become king of The Gambia. He said monarchical inclinations have brought down many presidents in other parts of the world.

He said some leaders suffered the uprising of the people they have been oppressing. He said leadership should go with selfless sacrifice.

He rubbished the notion of a governor that opposition cannot bring development for the people. He said the money meant for the development of the country is from the pockets of the taxpayers and not from the pocket of any leader. He added that development is not a partisan issue.

Sanneh said the right time to wise up as a people is now, because people are increasingly getting into abject poverty and many businesses are collapsing. “Farmers are suffering due to disproportionate sharing of the national cake. They are not enjoying the fruits of their labour. Let us end the politics of pettiness and bring to power a progressive government by voting in UDP,” he said.

Author: Baboucarr Ceesay

www.dailynews.gm

By Prince Oberian Cooker

I have said it before and I will say it again and forever, that in the current affairs of The Gambia; there is NO FENCE to sit on. You either condone the Orwellian State or condemn its inhumanity. It has become commonplace on these forums to bolster the agenda of the status quo, than to demonise it. For those who see Yahya Jammeh as the world greatest leader could be easily excused since Jammeh has all the qualities that Morons and Idiots look for in their heroes. For some of these people, their policies sit invariably far above their consciences.

There are those among us who profess to oppose Yahya Jammeh, but are doing more effective things to get him re-elected than the entire APRC. What I find funny with these people, is the fact that they never come out and tell us who they would really prefer to rule the country. It is about time we stopped closing our eyes in the dark and face reality of the politics of our country. Some of these people are always against anything possible to get rid of the APRC regime.

One well-known contributor recently stated this: “As you are aware, even the developed economies are facing serious fiscal slippages. You know that even in the mighty USA states are struggling. Similarly, U.K, France, and others are facing the same problems.The Gambia is not any different because we are part of the global economy. However, I believe professor Jammeh can weather this storm just like he did when he first came, and throughout his tenure. Here is the evidence below.
I compared 15 years of Jawara and 15 years of Jammeh.”. One thing that this twisted brain bugger forgot to mention was that the Gambia is an “Almoody” nation in comparison to the counties he mentioned. The Gambia neither produces nor manufactures, thus anything we have is given to us by the very countries he is trying to put the Gambia on par with. Another thing that we are less pragmatic about is the unification of the opposition parties.

We failed to emulate the formulae of successful coalitions and also failed in our unwarranted castigation of the people duly elected by thousands of people to be their leaders. One thing has to be borne in mind by all Gambians is that any united opposition WITHOUT the leadership of the UDP is bound to failed and mercilessly too. The UDP, since its inception, has done better in all Elections than all the other parties put together. It’s about time we faced this fact.

I am aware that there are those who would want to advocate that PDOIS should be in the forefront of any decision making body in the opposition. PDOIS, the oldest of the functional parties in the opposition is yet to garner more than 6% of the popular Gambian votes. It is high time that we put an end to the “ostrich” politics that is hampering our progress. I urge all well-meaning Gambia to exhort all leaders to work together to get rid of the abomination we are now in.

The minority leader of the National Assembly and the parliamentarian for Kiang West constituency Mr Momodou Sanneh said the minister of Finance and Economic Affairs stated in his last budget speech said that parastatals have limitations to contribute to national development due to lack of funds. 

Prior to the tour, however, Jammeh debunked reports of his desire to campaign for the election. On the contrary, he has used the tour to canvass for votes for the up-coming November election.

Throughout the tour, Jammeh made it clear to the electorate that those who do not vote for him will not benefit from his governments development projects. Apparently, the regime that oppressed its own people needs to be liberated as the oppressor.

We are not taken aback by Jammeh’s assertions knowing that it is a “lose game” cum  psychological warfare used by Jammeh and his ruling APRC party propaganda campaign manager, Yankuba Colley to play tricks on the minds of  the electorate, 50 percent of whom are illiterate. The exploitation rate in the APRC echelons is high. Youth  and “Yaay Kompins” (women groups) are routinely used for political propaganda and mobilisation purposes and yet the regime couldn’t assist in capacitating them.

Dreams to enjoy formal education remains a nightmare for these youth who continue to live in illusions for years with the hope of getting a better life from the APRC government and yet nothing is achievable. As a sovereign people, we should always have courage to decide who to vote for without fear or threat.

The current political contour in the country calls for hiding fear behind a mask of boldness. There is this saying that, ‘the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ As citizens of this country each of us has two obligations: first obligations to our parents, to our family, to our wives and children; second, an obligation to our people, our community and to our country. These obligations can be fulfilled based on ones inclination or capacities but shall never be behest by force from neither the APRC government nor opposition parties to do so. Therefore, we must not allow to be cowed by their remarks, we should decide for ourselves who to vote for regardless of such intimidation.

Time and again, The Gambia as a nation has witnessed infrastructural development but purely from loans, overtures or donor agencies. The country is regarded as a highly indebted poor country with loans over D22 billion and over D900 million for debt servicing.

The APRC further pledges to build a new Gambia that is characterized by good governance, genuine democracy and freedom for our people. They said the new Gambia will be one in which our people will be: free to participate in the process of national development; free to choose who governs them and in what way; free to say what they think and exchange ideas in a spirit of tolerance and mutual respect; free to know what the government does  in their name and on their behalf and free to demand accountability, transparency and probity in public life and to determine their choice of laws, rules and regulations that govern their lives.

In contradiction, the regime has failed to institutionalize meaningful political changes since Jammeh descend to power in 1994. The president deliberately neglected the popular demand of presidential term-limit.

Jammeh again failed Gambians in his promise to save the country from perpetual stay in power of another leader. Minds are basking that Mr. Jammeh has not learn lessons from former president Dawda Jawara who over stayed in power and ended up out living his usefulness to Gambians, unnoticed until removed from power on July 22, 1994.

The current governance system does not inspire confidence in the minds of ordinary Gambians and youths thousands of whom risk their lives in the high seas just to earn a better living in Europe.

Thousands of young men risked their lives in the high seas in search of greener pasture in Europe most of whom died on the voyage. The status quo has forced many genuine citizens to believe that “Gambia is Jammeh’s country in which we are living in because of his blessings.” Again the APRC government has not created an enabling political contour for freedoms. The regime put in place laws on libel, sedition, and defamation that gravely restrict free speech and freedom of expression with the media having no access to public information.

We have seen instances were people are being routinely convicted for expressing views on issues of national matters which is unacceptable and an affront on our democracy.

The Gambia over the years witnessed unprecedented arson attacks on journalists and media houses and yet the suspects are not arrested. Media houses were being closed down without court order and journalists critical of the regime being forced to flee the country.

During the past 17 years of Jammeh’s rule, journalists Omar Barrow, Deyda Hydara, and Ebrima Chief Manneh all lost their lives in broad day light with no investigation to bring the perpetrators to book. The system is intolerant to criticisms, so it makes no sense if the regime is claiming these freedoms for our people.

Having already made a debacle in the media, the regime is dangerously unaccountable, and suffices to say Jammeh is not accountable. Mr. Jammeh does not explain where he got millions or hundred of thousands of dalasi he usually dishes out to people.

Neither accountable for the human rights violations committed nor is he accountable to the alleged crude oil deal he allegedly reached with the late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha. Mr. Jammeh also empowered himself to appoint chiefs instead of people electing them.  At worst, the human rights during the past 17 years were a disaster. Not only 14 innocent students were gunned down but their assailants were protected from the recourse of justice. During the 17 years many people died, some perished without trace. The mysterious assassination of Ousman Koro Ceesay, a former minister of finance is still in the light, and yet the APRC government still cannot mount any investigation into his death.

The regime at the moment could be accused of intruding into peoples’ lives and freedom, the establishment of the National Intelligence Agency continues to perpetual fear in the minds of the general public whenever the name “NIA” is mentioned. The actions of the APRC regime has forced many opponents into exile for fear of reprisal living behind their families, friends and loved ones. Poverty in The Gambia is on the increase. Jobs are in short supply, and payment in government offices or institutions hardly tender for civil servants livelihoods. Unemployment has increased significantly with thousands of graduates roaming the streets every year with nothing the state could do for them. The alarming rate of unemployment contributes to the surge in crime rate and drug trafficking in the country and this is likely to continue as long the plight of the youth are  not remedied.

Courtesy of  The Daily News

The Secretary General and party leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, has vowed that come 24th November, the UDP will unseat incumbent President Yahya Jammeh from the position he occupied for the past 17 years.

For those of you Gambians, who would like to donate cash tothe UDP at this crucial stage of the campaign, you can contact the followingpeople to facilitate your donation to the party;

United Kingdom

Suntou Touray, Coordinator, UDP UK

Tel; 07411248764/02476659290

Email; gambiaforall@gmail.com

United Statesof  America

Ebriama Dibba

Tel; (001) 206-250-3822

Email; udpfund2011@gmail.com

Alternatively, you can deposit your donation into theiraccount; Name: Gambia Democracy Movement, State: New York, Account #: 4830-3384-8047.

Donate cash to the UDPin this crucial moment and help heroic Gambians shield Jammeh’s  defeat on November 24th .

SS Daffeh

Secretary General

UDP United Kingdom

Opposition Gambia’s project of opposition unity against an over-powerful incumbent is one of never ending drama, of relentless and misleading propaganda, and through it all, the machinations of an electorally insignificant person and party.

In 2006, it was its flag bearer selection mechanism that guaranteed the collapse of NADD.

In a 2010 New Year message released December 2009, Agenda 2011 and its ridiculous presidential candidate selection mechanism of a “primary” hit the headlines. It got no traction and was abandoned as it lay dying in the very year it was supposed to come to fruition and work wonders for Halifa Sallah’s singular project to unseat His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Doctor Yahya A J J Jammeh (the Professor).

As if there were not enough lessons from the self destructive flag bearer selection mechanisms of NADD, and Agenda 2011, a so-called Convention was floated in August with the purported objective of selecting a sole candidate for a “united opposition” against the incumbent this presidential election year.

In  so far as is objectively discernible, the common thread in all these alleged unity schemes were presidential candidate selection mechanisms calculated to drive the largest opposition party off the table by completely discounting its clear electoral supremacy. And without exception, all these schemes originated with Halifa!

Although that grand plan of pushing the UDP off the table appears to have ultimately succeeded in this crucial election year, its product represents a political joke of the first order. I call it the pact of the three electoral pygmies of the NRP, PDOIS, and GPDP. I refused to be detained by the perverse notion of NADD as an independent entity, and regard, as in bad taste, the attempt to hang on to the pretence that NADD, wholly subsumed in PDOIS, is an entity practically separable from the latter. NADD has no numbers distinct from PDOIS, and they incontestably share the same leadership. That NADD has separate legal personality is beside the point in light of the irrefutable reality that its numbers and structure are indistinguishable from those of PDOIS.

And it appears that message – that NADD and PDOIS are indistinguishable - rammed through by several commentators, finally got through. In an interview with Foroyaa only yesterday, Halifa refers exclusively to NRP, and GPDP, as PDOIS’ partners in what he dubbed the “united front” of opposition parties. Thank God the pretence of NADD as an independent entity is being surreptitiously dropped!

So in reality, the pact of October 29 should be seen as between three political pygmies in light of the fact that on 24 November, UDP alone will easily trounce this disparate collection of midget parties pretending to the propagandistic title of the “united” opposition front. For a political opposition ostensibly united in the belief that the Professor represents utter bad news for our nation, it is difficult to appreciate what Halifa hopes to achieve with shenanigans clear for all to see in their vindictive calculus against the UDP. And such conduct by someone who regards himself as the conscience of The Gambia, as our very own Mandela, and Tutu!

As someone who follows Halifa’s every significant pronouncement in the public space, I was never in any doubt that opposition Gambia was heading to this very destination in 2011, the year that clearly offers an excellent opportunity for a peaceable end to tyranny in the only country of which we are native. In a conversation with Bailo over a Foroyaa editorial castigating Diaspora Gambia for criticising opposition parties, I argued: “Foroyaa is affiliated with a political party, and in the circumstances, it may be reasonable to assume it is speaking for the leadership of that Party. Viewed in the round, the  implications of the editorial are explosive. If you want my instinctive view on a very clear editorial, I am incline to the conclusion that there is unlikely to be a united front against His Excellency SHEPAD Yahya A J J Jammeh (the Professor) in 2011”.

With the UDP registering major inroads against the Professor’s APRC countrywide, this may yet be the year, but the job is needlessly complicated by the three pygmies and their joke of a “united front” of opposition parties.

How did opposition Gambia arrived at such a pathetic and disappointing destination?

Quite simply, the answer is Halifa, Halifa, and Halifa!

For starters, I refer to section 8 of the NADD Memorandum of Understanding on the Candidate nomination process: “The selection of the candidate of the Alliance for the presidential, National Assembly and council elections shall be done by consensus; provided that in the event of an impasse selection shall be done by holding a primary election restricted to party delegates  on the basis of equal number of delegates, comprising the chairman, chairwoman and youth leader of each party from each village/ward in a constituency”. Accepting some level of intellectual laziness from other constituent parties of NADD, the UDP especially, there was no question the pertinent clause represents a breach of trust on the part of Halifa in so far as the certainty of an impasse was factored into the clause!

When the clause unexpectedly put OJ in temporary lead to become flag bearer, there was at least one press report quoting Sam Sarr of PDOIS as saying that outcome was unacceptable. Perverse as that outcome might be, OJ was clearly representing a bona fide party and PDOIS had no cause for complaint if it was truly committed to a transparent and democratic process. For present purposes, the crucial point to note was that UDP’s legitimate expectation of being offered the presidential flag bearer position was frustrated by Halifa’s scheming. Against his better judgement, he ended up as flag bearer on the fragmentation of NADD. And so I caution commentators like D A Jawo whose view remains that Ousainu, and Hamat walked away from NADD to view the process critically, and with the benefit of hindsight, to accept that the reality was far more complicated. Nothing better exemplified this state of affairs than that subsequent attempts by Halifa to replicate the NADD process were rejected in the period between 2010 and now.

Following the pattern of the NADD flag bearer selection mechanism, opposition Gambia was treated to the bizarre notion of a “primary” in Halifa’s purported blue print for The Gambia that was Agenda 2011. According to the document, “Agenda 2011 is a fast track initiative in creating a voting bloc irrespective of party affiliation, based on a consensual programme aimed at reflecting and addressing most of the diverse and relevant concerns of the Gambian people in particular and the international community at large. It proposes for all those who endorse the programme to participate in a primary   to ensure the democratic selection of opposition Presidential candidate for the 2011 Presidential elections and each opposition National Assembly Candidate for the 2011National Assembly elections.” If Halifa is to be believed, “many people have endorsed this proposal especially when they came to realise that it is the people who will do the selection of a candidate from a pool of persons recommended for candidature from political parties or civil societies.”

Again, like NADD before it, Agenda 2011 was calculated to devalue the electoral supremacy of the UDP, a strategy that ensured the failure of the project from birth. Clearly, governance even in what are termed “mature democracies” is a process, and deficiencies are therefore rectifiable over time. Why then is Halifa ostensibly insisting on prior perfection for the opposition going into government? Even as an interim measure, Halifa supported the adoption of the 1997 Constitution on the grounds that notwithstanding the climate then prevalent, that incremental step to ultimate democracy represented the best way forward. Why then was the incrementalist philosophy rejected out of hand in the presuppositions underpinning Agenda 2011 by Halifa’s unreasonable insistence on a primary as an exclusive mechanism to selecting a united opposition candidate.

In my view, the whole premise of Agenda 2011 was flawed, and was brought in either as a vehicle to afford undue leverage to an electorally insignificant entity like PDOIS, or out of spite for UDP. Even where the aspirational spirit enunciated in Agenda 2011 is embodied in the general principles of opposition to the government of the APRC, Halifa acted as though the principles therein were unique to PDOIS for merely committing them to paper. The only significant aspect of Agenda 2011 was the divisive "primary" question, and the document may therefore be regarded as having stood squarely in the way of a united front in the sense its architecture not only appears to rig the outcome in favour of Halifa, but embodied a rigid strategy to again push the UDP off the table.

In a Foroyaa interview after a “freelance” meeting with Ousainu, Sidia is properly regarded as elaborating the foregoing contention when he stated he was "not sure which political leader in the opposition could take voters away from the ruling party and motivate those who abstained in 2006 to cast their vote. Hence I subscribe to the idea of holding a primary for the people to select the candidate of their choice in line with Agenda 2011. I told him that this is why I endorse Agenda 2011". This effectively rejects the fragmentation argument against opposition failures in trying to unseat the Professor, and instead reduced the inability to effectively tackle the Professor as one embedded in personality. Stated differently, Halifa, Sidia, and PDOIS, continue to insinuate, nay, assert, without even passable justification, the nonsense that voters reject the opposition because of Ousainu. Riding to power on the back of the UDP is only feasible if the largest opposition party is amenable to such an outcome.

If, as contended by Sidia, the ultimate objective is to is to "take voters away from the ruling party and motivate those who abstained in 2006 to cast their vote" in sufficient numbers to defeat the APRC, then the answer is none of the opposition leaders individually. That will only come about under a united front, and unquestionably, the UDP has a far larger support base and therefore a more competent claim to leadership than the electoral midget that is PDOIS. Realising it was not going anywhere without dropping the unnecessary conditionality of a 'primary' no one was subscribing to, Agenda 2011 died quietly notwithstanding PDOIS May 2010 Congress “that all members of PDOIS shall endorse and promote Agenda 2011 and shall undertake to play effective role in sensitising, mobilising and organising party and non party members to ensure its realisation; that all members of political parties which aim to bring about change shall be encouraged to motivate their parties to hold congresses to endorse Agenda 2011 so as to bring about unity among all forces for change”. It was nevertheless attempted to reincarnate Agenda 2011 in the phony proposal of a Convention.

In a Point Newspaper interview last August, Halifa had this to say in transitioning from Agenda 2011 and its primary concept to a so-called National Conference or Convention. “The subject of establishing a united front is not a new idea. We started our campaign for a United Front three years ago. There is no doubt that many people support the holding of a cross-party primary which is the surest way of guaranteeing cross-party voting for a candidate. However to accommodate the views of others we are of the view that a nationwide primary could be replaced by a National Conference or Convention which would form the basis of a non partisan Selection Committee that would elect the Candidate”.

Undoubtedly, the methodology harks to flag bearer mechanisms of NADD, and Agenda 2011. Again, the crux of this proposal is nothing if not an attempt to devalue the clear electoral supremacy of the UDP. In his own words, “Participating parties could select equal delegates, male and female from the seven administrative areas and then agree to a list of participants who are non-partisan from all over the country and mandate them to elect a winnable candidate who could best facilitate a successful transition to a third Republic that would guarantee a genuine multi-party system and limited executive powers and tenure of office. Once the will is there, the way will not be difficult to find.” Indeed!

If, as we now know, Halifa himself is not running because he aspires to the rarefied role of our nation’s conscience ala Mandela, and Tutu, what makes him think that Hamat, Sidia, Henry, or Assan Martin, are more electorally appealable than Ousainu, the leader of the largest opposition party in the country. Only yesterday, a new twist was added to the “voter apathy” theory when Halifa asserted: “Those who use foul language against opposition leaders are the promoters of voter apathy. They are the ones dashing the hopes of the Gambian people and should be identified as indecent citizens who cannot even engage in healthy and respectful debates to shape public opinion for the common good” (see Foroyaa, 02/11/11). This unsustainable contention makes a complete nonsense of Halifa’s position and projects him as a vindictive and sour grapes politician. Unless the UDP voluntarily buys into the logic of ceding leadership to minor parties, no number of shenanigans are likely to work. Some Mandela, and, or, Tutu!

In my view, UDP was right to walk away from the charade of NADD, as well as  rejecting the farce of Agenda 2011, and its successor National Convention which culminates today!

Analysing material coming out of PDOIS through Foroyaa and other media, there appears consistent streams of thought emanating from the leadership. Telling us about his only formal meeting with Ousainu, Sidia  asserts that "those who want to support the opposition should take their sides and promote dialogue while not undermining each other’s positions. This is the way forward". Halifa asserts similarly in a Maafanta.com interview, and as recently as yesterday, on Foroyaa, states: “The time has come to isolate all those who claim to oppose the government but are constantly trying to belittle opposition initiatives. Each should be part of the solution by supporting one opposition party or the other. All those who are neutral and would not support one opposition party or the other are allied with the regime. These so called neutral people who oppose all opposition parties are responsible for what happens in Gambian society today”. Unbelievable if you ask me!

On the Diaspora, Halifa again: “The Convention has rules and they are stated in black and white. No party candidate or Independent Candidate is excluded. If people who consider themselves competent refuse to assume their national responsibility then they should not caricature the so-called lesser endowed persons who stand up to be counted. The people who are failing Gambian society are those Gambians in the Diaspora who pen their days and nights to attack those who are making the supreme sacrifice to combat impunity at home. They do not come home to establish political parties to uproot the regime but do not reward the little others are doing even if it is not enough.”

If the foregoing is intended to stop difficult dialogue, it is unlikely to succeed, and more pertinently, no independent and fair minded Gambian can fail to appreciate that PDOIS, in the person of Halifa, represents the major stumbling block to the creation of a united front in so far as the incessant attempts to devalue UDP’s electoral strength in any unity talks is concerned. For those in any doubt, I refer to the primary documents of the NADD MOU, to Agenda 2011, and their latest reincarnation in the so-called Convention.  We are well aware of the "concrete realities on the ground", and such dismissive statements from PDOIS’ in the persons of Halifa, and Sidia, will not deter “sovereign” Gambians in the Diaspora from speaking on issues affecting the direction of our country.

Happy Convention to the three pygmies of NRP, PDOIS, and GPDP!

 Lamin J Darbo

London, UK

Halipha can't you see?

by Fatou Jaw Manneh

Halipha can’t you see?
Silence fell over the horizon
As the inevitable scribes hit the platform
A sham document is brandished
Confirming all that we dreaded
That indeed after all this agitated noise
There is a coalition NOT.
Halipha can’t you see?

Over ten years and counting Gambians have given you respect fit for a king
Cause you showed up when needed
With courage and tenacity you persevered
I remember falling into the devil’s water while you swam along
And for that I am forever grateful
Endurance is your second name,
Perseverance your trademark
Your character in mandinka is called Foroyaa
And your pen never shied from the truth
We cajoled and begged and crawled but all was met with stiff rigidity
And we hailed and hailed and hailed you
Our highest and dearest Halifa
But time is running out
And indeed these are trying times
But Halipha can’t you see?

The prisoners’ roofs are leaking
Countless victims are killed and buried unnoticed
As presidential convoys become DEATH’s HIT SQUADS
Markets running dry, rice untouchable
As this golden coast of West Africa
Is turned into a kingdom of beggars
Where mediocrity is celebrated
Hypocrisy applauded and brutality condoned
Halipha can’t you see?

Even lawyers are jumping fence
Or was it the bar that got spoked?
Gambians hate to see any coalition
Without your stamp of approval
So open your heart and stay the cause on the people’s side
And do not take us for a fool Halifa
You took us for a long ride Halifa
And now we feel duped and suspicious
Of your actions and intentions
Halipha can’t you see?

Of PDOIS I am no member
neither do I identify with other parties
But if truth be told to you Halifa
Your strength and power
You have misunderstood or miscalculated
In the political arena Halifa
You are neither Mohammad nor the mountain
So Halifa please track back and follow the flow
Or else history will paint you ugly
Some fights are still worth the fight
Even when you know you lose in the end
Halipha can’t you see?

Nelson Mandela made the giant leap from prisoner to president
Not because he was more handsome, educated or concerned
But because a thousand other great men gave way and allowed him to pass
So that liberty reins supreme and terror is banished forever
Halipha can’t you see?

The restaurant is burning
Halifa so shocking you talk about setting the table
Sharing the cake with inadequate spoons and forks and
Please trash out this residual garbage
Omar OJ Jallow definitely my hero
He was arrested over 20 times, beaten and his house raided
Halipha can’t you see?

I interviewed OJ thrice and thrice I failed to produce the final draft
Cause I got shamed and emotional beyond belief
Anytime I tried to account for the trials and tribulations
Of this gallant son of The Gambia
It feels inadequate to address the ordeal of this brave son of the land
The country fell and he did not budge
And out of loyalty
He stood for his party
Even when he knows it was doomed
Halipha can’t you see?

Over ten years of the UDP
Ousainou Darboe we taunted, tormented and haunted
Abused and caricatured
With scandals of tribalism, naivety and timidity
Unfairly so for this humble man with great integrity
Out of love for you we hardly listened to Ousainou
But we shall not at the expense of our dear country
We cannot smooch smooch to our detriment
In The USA we call it tough love
And In reality, i mean country above ego
And some fights you fight even if you lose
Halipha can’t you see?

The humble man ran after you
Pleaded, stumbled and pleaded again
Cause we will not take anything less from him
But now and for now I say to OJ and Ousainou
You must move on and God speed!!
For Halifa and his band of flip-flops
I say good luck to you too and God bless you too
And history shall eventually be the judge
I shall leave you with some wisdom words from
Thomas Paine in the thick of the American Revolution
It gave inspiration to millions of Americans yearning for liberty
Hope it melts your heart and put you into Action too
Halipha can’t you see?



“These are the times that try mens souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis,
shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and
woman. “
Thomas Paine

As Yahya Jammeh’s antediluvian military regime continues its political debauchery and
onerous domination of political life in The Gambia, the year 2011 has come to take on a
life of its own. The stakes could not be higher for a country in such dire need of radical
political change. In a country that has long luxuriated in the blissfulness of capitulating to
the bluster of Yahya Jammeh’s military muscle, a paucity of moral courage and craven
political apathy has blighted The Gambia’s political landscape into a state of mortifying
fury. But recognizing that the sun has long ago set for a regime that has now become
the metaphor for catastrophic political failure, the task to mount a dutifully holy campaign
of liberation from political tyranny is solidifying across all segments of Gambian society.
It is in this spirit that opposition parties desirous of self redemption from years of
borderline indifference to the political carnage in our country, made effort to latch onto
the remotest chance of defeating the infernal reign of the most hated man in West Africa
politics; the irreverent Yahya Jammeh.

BY FAKEBBA J SAMATEH

Yahya jammeh has always tried and failed and would continue to fail in trying to fool the people of kiang.mr jammeh the tyrant has stated he did his childhood in the area of kiang,a place called,bankuling a small village in the west part of kiang.mr jammeh said he love the people of kiang,

I laugh to such because yahya jammeh has been the leader of the gambia two years in military uniform before he stand for the 1996,presidential elections. howver i will love to ask him,this question has mr president ever remembered the people of bankuling? no and even if the people of kiang or kiangkas never voted for him,there are some villages like nyoro jattaba that has always voted for him,but has jammeh ever once done anything for them? No he did some childhood in mayokoi in foni as he said, he built a secondary school and clinic for the people of that area,looking at mayoki which is even very smaller that nyoro jattaba.now who is yahya trying to fool?

Kiangkas would never trust a dictator for a peaceful gambia is a peaceful kiang,therefore let yahya take his money away and if the government of the gambia,or a tyrant government thinks that because kiang is a big and number one opposition stronghold in the country therefore no development for the people of kiang,then let them also refuse our taxes because is and opposition tax,

Yahya is a dictator by collecting money from kiangkas including the people of his childhood village bankuling and nyoro jattaba and developing kanilia with the taxi pay by the people of peaceful kiang as a district.

Private Gambian lawyers, who had mounted a seeming futile three-day strike against the prosecution of their colleague, Moses Richards, have renewed their vow to stand up against excesses of Gambian judiciary, especially its Nigeria-imported adjudicating officers.

“The Gambia Bar Association (GBA) will no longer stand by while these atrocities are carried out in our country against our people by those who would not dare act in such a manner in their country of origin,” Gambia bar says in a press statement issued yesterday.

The lawyers’ rare hard-hitting statement came in the wake of the imprisonment of a former high court judge, Mr Moses Richards, who, like many other Gambian lawyers, goes private following his unexplained dismissal in April last year.

He had been charged with sedition and false information when he told the Sheriff of Gambia High Court that Gambian president Yahya Jammeh ordered a stay of execution of a court order, which instructed the eviction of some residents in Jabang village.

Formerly described as ‘no-nonsense’ judge, Mr Richards, who served as a magistrate in various regions of The Gambia before he became a judge at the Gambia’s Special Criminal Court in Banjul, the capital, had however pleaded not guilty.

Yet, his eight month long trial ended on Monday with a guilty verdict by the magistrates’ court in Banjul and he was subsequently sentenced to two years in jail with hard labour at the country’s maximum security jail in Banjul called Mile II.

“The Gambia Bar Association unreservedly condemns the judgment delivered by Mr Alagbe and considers it to be an assault on the independence of the profession as well as a malicious attack on the independence of the bar.”

The statement continues: “Once again, The Gambia is portrayed as a nation where the mere mention of the Office of the President is risky. The Gambia Bar Association urges the executive branch of the government to take note as its name is used to drive a wedge between the State and the people.”

Since independence in 1965, The Gambia has been benefiting from a flow of experts to fill in the smallest West African country’s human resource gaps in the civil service.

The largest beneficiary is the country’s legal sector where most of the key positions, including chief justice and director of public prosecution, are handled by Nigerian-born legal experts, some of whom are, unlikely the previous arrangements, not under the Nigerian government sponsored legal corp.

“The bar hereby puts all relevant authorities on notice that the Gambia Bar Association will actively seek the institution of disciplinary action against Mr Alagbe in Nigeria and will do the same to all other foreign lawyers that seek to visit terror and humiliation on Gambians,” vows Gambian bar.

Lamenting that no such a judgment as on Richards’ will be delivered in any other regional Commonwealth nation especially Nigeria, the native land of Mr Alagbe. The bar calls on the Government of the Gambia to step in and protect its citizens.

“We call on the government of the Gambia to free Moses Richards!” it says, adding that the judgment on Richards sets a dangerous precedent that will once more smear the international reputation of The Gambia and yet again further weakens the already failing Gambian legal system.

Courtesy of the DailyNews

The Secretary General and party leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, has vowed that come 24th November, the UDP will unseat incumbent President Yahya Jammeh from the position he occupied for the past 17 years.

Darboe, who was addressing a rally organized by the UDP in Serrekunda recently, described as “baseless” comments by President Jammeh that neither coups nor elections can remove him from power. “Believe me, if Gambians really need change and are yeaning for a change, then come 24th November, President Jammeh will have no option but to leave State House.

He said neither coup nor elections can remove him from power, but my message is for Gambians to vote massively for the opposition and see whether he will accept defeat or not,” Darboe said. “The international community is not sleeping, and a President who fails to respect the desire of his people, especially at the ballot box, will be taught a bitter lesson,” he added, while giving the example of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo who, Darboe said, failed to accept defeat despite losing the elections.

Hailing the bravery of his party’s former campaign manager, Femi Peters, whom he described as “Nelson Mandela”, Darboe called on his supporters to come out in their large numbers, come 24th November, and vote for the UDP. “It is just a few months to the polls; so I am urging you to come out in your large numbers and vote the APRC regime out of power,” Darboe told the rally.

According to him, poverty in the country is now at a higher degree. “A bag of sugar is costing D1500, which an average Gambian cannot afford. This means that we Gambians need to effect a change, because this election will define the future of The Gambia,” he further stated.

Darboe told the rally, which was attended by mainly youths and women, that the forthcoming presidential election will restore the dignity of Gambians.

In his view, President Jammeh thinks that Gambians are 100% in for him. “This is a joke, because some Gambians are just following him for their selfish interest, as demonstrated in the just-concluded meet-the-people tour, where people dance and sing just to get something from him,” he added.

Darboe went further to criticise a high court judge who, he said, goes to the provinces to campaign for the ruling APRC, noting that this is unconstitutional and unprofessional. “Imagine, how can a high court judge campaign for the President? It is really shameful seeing a person who should be independent and impartial campaigning,” he declared.

He further added that his party’s priorities will, among others, include the economy and agriculture.

On the issue of Basiru Jawara, which dominated the rally, Darboe said he will deal with Jawara at an appropriate time, noting that Basiru must tell him where he found him (Darboe) drinking alcohol or intoxicated.

Dembo Bojang, alias Dembo By Force, a strong UDP politician and long time critic of the ruling APRC party, also spoke at the rally, and deplored the use of shackles and handcuffs on accused persons.“This act is immoral; it dates back to colonial times, during the slave trade. Why shackling our brothers for merely committing crimes that are yet to be proven by the courts?”

Author: Sainey M.K. Marenah

Courtesy of The Point

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The female wing of the United Democratic Party under the leadership of Aji Sukaina Kah on Friday, 29^th July 2011 concluded the first leg of their nation-wide tour which began in Barra in the North Bank Region and concluded in the Niani District of the Central River Region.

The entourage visited many villages in Nuimi, Baddibou and Sabach Sanjal and were accorded with warm reception amidst thunderous clapping and Singing.

During the tour, Aji Yamu Secka, the group’s leader, seized the opportunity to dismiss president Jammeh's claim that neither election nor coup can remove him from power as a desperate attempt to scare-off women from voting against him massively. They advised the women folk not to pay attention such misguided comments. If Jammeh believes in that claim, why is he out campaigning for votes? Aji Yamu queried.

She also told the crowds to be mindful of Jammeh’s tribal politics as he is hell-bent on pitting Gambian tribes against one another and thereby endangering the peace and tranquillity we have always enjoyed as a nation and people and also the harmony that has always existed among Gambian tribes. She urged the women to use their robust networks to defuse any such treacherous plots in order to save the future of their children and country.

She thanked the UDP leader, Alhagi Ousainu Darboe, for facilitating the tour and UDP UK and USA for the sponsorship. The tour which was brought to a halt due to the Holy month of Ramadan, will resume immediately after the Koriteh Prayers.

Aji Yamu Secka also described the jubilant mood of the villagers as a sign of Gambian women being tired of living in a state of fear and APRC’s endless false promises.

Publisher; (United Democratic Party) (Reporting by Lamin Darboe, edited by SS Daffeh)

Mr Kebba Koto Colley, the ruling Alliance for Patriotism Reconciliation and Reconstruction (APRC) youth leader and over hundred youths in Burong village have announced their defection. Mr Fanding Kuta Darboe, also a ruling APRC staunch supporter in Dumbuto village has also joined the UDP.

As we wait patiently for the outcome of the coalition talks, it is very clear that a whole lot is riding on it, and in fact the future of our country is at stake. For most of us who have been part of the coalition effort, we are cautiously optimistic knowing the difficulty of finding common ground among the party leaders. Like most Gambians in the Diaspora, we are keeping our fingers crossed hoping upon hope that all the parties are well aware of the need for a deal in order to save our country. Even the cyber warriors have signed a period of détente to allow the talks to find a resolution which can lead to a coalition of all parties. As we wait, it is very clear to all the stakeholders that time is indeed against us and there is a need to wrap it up if we are going to give ourselves time to launch a winnable campaign against Jammeh.

Sitting, hoping and waiting for resolution is a road that STGDP has travelled before, and that has really, affected the anxieties of members and followers of Gambian politics. Those anxieties are beginning to come through, and after series of direct talks with all of the opposition parties, the parties again are unable to come up with a coalition. All the opposition parties have indicated that the only way they can be competitive against Jammeh is through a coalition.

However, just like 2006, they are still haunted by their inability to make bold concession which could bring about coalition. Now is not really the time trying to explain or justify the need of a coalition in order to give us a chance to take our country back, but to come up with a political deal that will bring all parties under one tent. The Diaspora is really seen as the bastion of opposition support, and irrespective of our partisan leanings, we are only interested in a deal that will bring about a united opposition against Jammeh come 2011. As an independent observer puts it: “not having united front against Jammeh in 2011 will without a doubt be the final nail in the coffin of bringing about change in the Gambia through peaceful political means, and opposition politics in the Gambia will be dead for a long time to come”. It will not be inconceivable for the Gambia to be stuck with the Jammeh government for the next two decades

Talking about finding a deal; STGDP would like to surface critical issues we highlighted as very important if we are to find the compromise that can give us the deal for a united front. In the proposal we sent the leaders back in 2009, we highlighted some of the critical issues we deemed to be areas that need to be confronted head on if we are to come up with the compromise for a coalition: first, the selection of the leader of the united front to come from the largest opposition party, secondly, both the campaign phase and the governance phase after the opposition defeats Jammeh should be reflective of all parties, thirdly, the leader of the united front will be term limited during the transitional period and will not seek or support any candidate in 2016, and finally the transitional period will be the period focused on the restoration of democracy in the Gambia.

STGDP has learned some of the details of the UDP plan for a united front, acquainted ourselves with the NADD MOU that brought all the parties together signed back in 2006, and have also read and seen the PDOIS agenda 2011. These are all commendable coalition documents and without a doubt address the challenges we are faced with in our country and how to come together, but now is the time to make the bold concession and compromise on a plan that will bring all the parties under a big tent. STGDP is urging all the parties to support the UDP initiative on the table at this juncture because it contains all aspects of the policies highlighted in all the documents. It will give us a leader that has garnered largest votes ever gotten by an opposition leader. It will also give us a transitional leader that will be term limited after the transitional period, which directly addresses the safeguards and self-perpetuating rule in the NADD MOU, and in-depth relevant policies issues highlighted in PDOIS agenda 2011. Please let us all come together and contest the 2011 election under a united front, and together we will give all Gambians the opportunity to vote and defeat president Jammeh. Finally, we can deal with losing this election under a united front, but opposition politics cannot survive another election defeat by going it alone.

STGDP( Save The Gambia Democracy Project)

By D. A. Jawo

It is indeed sad and unfortunate that The Gambia is one of the six African countries which will soon cease receiving British financial assistance. One would of course wonder why The Gambia of all places should be among such countries, especially at this time when there is evidence of deterioration in the living standards of the average Gambian and a rise in the poverty index.

While one can only guess the reason why The Gambia has been included in the group, but reading between the lines of the press release issued by the British Department for International Development (DfID), one would not fail to sense some dissatisfaction with how British aid had been utilized in the affected countries. "The plans to redraw the aid map will concentrate efforts on countries where UK aid will, pound for pound, achieve the best results in fighting poverty and building a safer world, and where Britain is in the best position to deliver results," the press release states, which seems to indicate that the British did not get “best results” for the money they had been giving to those countries.

Of course there may have been several other possible reasons why The Gambia was among the affected countries, and one of them no doubt may have something to do with the frequent dishing out of huge sums of money by His Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya Abdul Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh Nasiru Deen, Admiral of the Nebraska Navy, etc. etc., most of the time for quite unnecessary causes. The latest case in point for instance, is the institution of a monthly Quranic Memorization Competition in which President Jammeh has undertaken to dish out about D2 million every month. One would wonder why the first prize winner for such a competition, for example, should be paid D1 million for just memorizing and reciting verses of the Holy Quran when there are so many pressing social matters in this country that deserve much more attention.

There had also been several other similar unnecessary expenditures involving millions of Dalasi, which of course include the compilation of President Jammeh’s “Best Speeches” and a Song for the July 22 “Revolution”, as well as the numerous so-called cultural festivals being organized almost every few months, the latest one being organized purposely in honour of President Jammeh’s own mother, in which no doubt several millions of Dalasi of public money and resources are being spent.

No doubt, his apologists will say it is his money and he has the right to do anything he wishes with it, but the question that every genuine Gambian tends to ask is where he got all that money. We are all quite aware that when President Jammeh first came to power in 1994, he did not have a single butut, and we all have an idea of his monthly salary, and therefore, if he can now behave like a multi-billionaire, we have a very good reason to be suspicious of the sources of that money. This is despite the fact that he now owns a big chunk of the country’s prime land for farming and other agricultural activities, receiving regular “voluntary labour” on his numerous farms from civil servants and other public service employees, as well as being involved in almost every sort of business in this country. Of course, when the donors see such unnecessary expenditure of our scarce resources when poverty is ravaging our nation, it makes quite a lot of economic sense for them to cut their aid and divert it to other countries where it will be much better utilized.

It is quite evident that unless President Jammeh makes an immediate halt to his extravagant lifestyle and minimizes the unnecessary expenditure that has now become the familiar hallmark of the regime, The Gambia will soon be on the road to become a yet another failed state and the country’s future would then be anyone’s guess. It appears to anyone closely monitoring the current trend in The Gambia that President Jammeh either does not have knowledgeable advisers, who would tell him the consequences of some of the things he does or contemplates, or he does not seek or accept their advices, otherwise, it is hard to see how his government continues to make such policy blunders which have quite negative implications for our very survival as a nation.

ENDS

Source; maafanta

The Gambia government's recent pronouncement on the situation in Ivory Coast and the efforts of Alasane Ouattara the legitimately elected President of that country to establish law and order in the face of his losing opponent's deadly intransigence that cost nearly 1500 Ivorians their lives and displaced more than a million people was at once pathetic and immoral.

To hear the government frame its farfetched claims and feigned outrage at the imagined hidden hands of colonialists attempting to take over a resource rich African country ignores the realities of the events that culminated in the arrests of the

former President Laurent Gbagbo. The international presence that the Gambia government seemed so perturbed by came about as a result of the civil war Ivory Coast found itself engulfed in a few years ago with all sides to the conflict agreeing to a United Nations supervised democratization process that was inclusive and engendered long term stability.

Despite repeated attempts by former President Gbagbo and his allies to delay and obstruct key instruments of the process in a bid to cling to power, the international community persevered and finally conducted a free and fair election in which all qualified voters were able to participate in determining the leadership of their country. Mr. Gbagbo promptly rejected the verdict of his own people when it became clear that they had chosen to vote his opponent into office. Both the regional and continental African bodies, Ecowas and AU respectively, concurred with the verdict delivered by the Ivorians that Mr. Ouattara was the duly elected President of Ivory Coast. This verdict was equally endorsed by the UN, the European Union and US government and all those who place value on a free and transparent electoral process.

Mr. Gbagbo stubbornly resisted every diplomatic initiative to end his illegitimate claim to power by spurning envoys from Ecowas, AU and direct offers of graceful exit from friendly countries that wanted to save Ivory Coast from further turmoil. With his increasing recalcitrance, the machinery of government effectively grounded to halt as he used regime loyalists to unleash violence on the civilian population and effectively threatening to plunge his nation back to the horrible days of the civil war.

The Ivorian people and the international community that had worked so hard to help chart a democratic future for Ivory Coast had to act to safeguard their mandate pursuant to the relevant United Nations resolutions. They acted swiftly and justifiably to end Mr. Gbagbo's war against the Ivorian people and in the process, offering them the opportunity to pursue the great promise they represent as a prosperous democratic country.

The Gambia government's refusal to recognise the elected President of Ivory Coast places it in a category by itself and is illustrative of an out of touch regime that is pursuing a foreign policy entirely driven by a crazy obsession with delusional western conspiracies. To be an on the record advocate of tyrants who refuse to cede power following a rejection by their people is utterly disgraceful and inconsistent with the Gambian peoples' strong affinity for democracy and the rule of law. The government's position on Ivory Coast does not reflect the values of our good people.

The United Democratic Party rejects the Gambia government's approach to President Ouattara. UDP congratulates Mr. Alasane Ouattara on his election to the high office of President of the Republic of Ivory Coast and wish him and his team all the best as they embark on the important and difficult task of reconciliation, rebuilding and repositioning that country as an economic and democratic beacon in a region that is fast changing for the better as one country after another shed dictators and calcified negative approaches and embrace functional democracies.

United Democratic Party Secretariat
Banjul
20th April, 2011

On Sunday 7^th November 2010 Mr. Kemeseng Jammeh accompanied me to meet with Mr. Sidia Jatta to discuss with him the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) proposal for a united opposition front to contest the next three cycles of elections. When I met Mr. Jatta I was under the impression that I was meeting him not in his capacity as National member for Wuli West but as the person designated by PDOIS to deal with inter- party matters.

I had previously been informed by Mr. Jatta that he was the person to deal with on matters touching on party relationships. This was after my failed attempts to reach Mr. Sallah the spokesperson for NADD and Secretary General of PDOIS.

I was very direct in presenting the position of UDP on the selection of a candidate for the 2011 presidential race. I reminded Mr. Jatta that a primary which is very central in the Agenda 2011 is conducted amongst aspiring candidates that belong to the same party. Holding of a primary for aspiring candidates from different political parties is bound to create disunity amongst the parties and the whole purpose of creating a formidable united front will be defeated. Since the elections are fast approaching, there may not be enough time to repair any damage that is caused in the process by aspiring candidate trying to win support. Such a situation I said could be exploited by opponents.

I then made the point that the well known norm for the creation of an opposition alliance is for the majority party to lead and others throw behind that party. In my bid to disabuse Mr. Jatta’s mind about my personal ambition to contest the 2011 presidential elections, I expressed disappointment that whenever the UDP makes a proposal for a party led alliance the focus shifts to OUSAINU DARBOE in wanting to be the candidate for the alliance. I told him that I am realistic to recognize the fact that a lot of things can happen that would prevent anyone from contesting the next presidential election. I said to him that I could step out of his house and then drop dead; that I could be struck by ailment that could render me physically or mentally unfit to contest any election. So the focus should not be on me but on the concept of a party led alliance.

I want to make it clear to every Gambian that the views I express on the issue of an opposition united front are views of the UDP. I do not advocate for such and an alliance because I want to position myself to lead.

In the course of the discussions I questioned Mr. Jatta on the rationale for imposing a condition on a successful all opposition alliance presidential candidate not to contest elections or support any candidate for election at the end of what is described in Agenda 2011 as a transitional period. The UDP has always advocated and will continue to advocate for a two year term limit. I told Mr. Jatta that the imposition of such a condition to my mind calls into question the integrity of the person who is selected by the alliance as a candidate. I made it clear to him that for the UDP such a condition suggests that the person so selected will not abide by the accepted rules and that he would only perpetuate himself in office. I made it clear to him the UDP will not consider such a person fit to be selected as an all opposition alliance candidate because there is some latent doubt that when elected to the office of president he will not honour his commitment to ensuring that all parties operate in a level playing field. Mr. Jatta in reply said that the stipulation of such a condition was not putting into question the integrity of any person who might be selected as an all opposition alliance candidate but that such a person would have an advantage over others. I took my enquires further and asked Mr. Jatta what this advantage(s) might be but he could not say.

The discussion on NADD was a reminder to both of us that the decision to register it should not have been taken. At this point Mr. Kemeseng Jammeh then intervened to say that the UDP advised against registration of NADD but the advice was not heeded. Mr. Jatta said a merger of political parties could have been registered but I pointed out to him that there was no clause at that time in the constitution of any of the parties that allows for a merger.

Mr. Jatta said if he was around at the time he would have suggested that all parties convene an extraordinary congress to amend their constitutions and insert a clause for mergers so that NADD could be registered without any problem. This was the only occasion and it was only in this context that the word “Extraordinary” was used.

Mr. Jammeh intervened again and asked how candidates for National Assembly elections will be elected under Agenda 2011 proposal. Mr. Jatta replied that this could be done on the basis of party strength in the constituencies. With that response from Mr. Jatta, I said to him if one can apply the principle of party strength to selection of National Assembly candidates why not for the selection of a presidential candidate.

Mr. Jatta did not give any direct answer to my enquiries. He said that for the interest of this country he is flexible. I then said this statement is re-assuring and comforting. I repeated these three times and on the third occasion Mr. Jatta said when he said he was flexible he was just stating his personal position and not his party’s. I again said even with that I felt assured and comforted.

I met Mr. Jatta and presented him proposals for PDOIS/NAAD consideration. Therefore Mr. Jatta could not be waiting for me. Rather I was waiting to hear from him. I did not commit myself to the holding of any meeting of the executive of the UDP whether regular or extraordinary to discuss the adoption of Agenda 2011by the UDP. It is simply incorrect that any individual’s candidature was in issue. The discussions were focused on the concepts of Agenda 2011 and a party led alliance.

When I subsequently reported to the National Executive Committee of the UDP on the discussion I had with Mr. Jatta, I impressed on all members of the committee that since we were engaged in consultation with Mr. Jatta, it will not be in keeping with tradition for any one of them to disclose to any member of our party or for that matter to any other person the content of my discussions with Mr. Jatta. But then I did not realize that whilst I was urging members of the U.D.P not to divulge to the public the contents of my discussions with Mr. Jatta, he was in fact taking steps to represent to Gambians and others that my consultations with him centered on Agenda 2011 and the promotion of my candidature. This representation is simply not correct.

Before we went into the discussion/consultation proper, I told Mr. Jatta that I had personally refrained from talking to the press on what I believe to have been the reasons for NADD’S disintegration or impediments for the creation of an all opposition alliance because I do not want anyone to take comfort in what some describe as “opposition squabbles”. The UDP has in the past ignored comments and statements to which it can legitimately react unless there is compelling reason to do so. Mr. Jatta’s statement in the Foroyaa issue of 6-7 December 2010 is one such compelling reason.

The UDP has not accused anyone of foot dragging and any suggestion that the UDP is engaged in foot dragging is simply misrepresenting UDP’s position. The efforts made by the UDP between 19^th October 2010 when Mr. Jatta was in Wuli and 6^th November for me to meet with him speak volume of its commitment to the idea of a united opposition to rescue The Gambia. UDP will continue with its consultation with all opposition parties so that a robust and formidable united opposition will emerge to unseat the incumbent. UDP hopes that PDOIS/NADD will be part of this united opposition.

The opposition elements in The Gambia must approach the problems of this country with seriousness. We must avoid publicity just for its sake. Tempus fugit. We should not allow time to run out on Gambians.

A.N.M Ousainu Darboe

Secretary General & Leader UDP

United Democratic Party Secretariat

8^th December 2010