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Cherish peace and ensure justice

Nov 29, 2016, 10:54 AM

As we go to the polls on Thursday December 1, let’s cherish peace and ensure justice.

With just two days to the polls, and with public political campaign to wrap up today 29 November, the political momentum in the country has continued to simmer as candidates in the 1st December presidential election continue to crisscross the country canvassing for votes.

In this atmosphere of political activities, we reiterate our call for a peaceful and just electoral exercise under the watch and fair play of the electoral commission.

This is because peace starts with fairness and justice, so these virtues must be maintained in officiating or overseeing electoral matters in this country.

We are, however, calling on all and sundry to cherish peace and tranquillity, and eschew violence and hatred.

Violence and hatred should have no place in modern day electioneering. The just-concluded US election is a case in point in terms of non-violence and protection of the national interest.

The Gambia needs continual progress, growth and development in all facets of life. And the people will surely decide, at the outcome of their votes, with whom they would entrust the responsibility of manning the affairs of state to address such national issues as  economic development, industrialisation, job creation, electricity and water supplies, provision of quality and affordable education, food and health, foreign exchange rate and inflation, housing and road rehabilitation, poverty alleviation, human rights and democracy, freedom of association and expression, press freedom, international relations, and good governance.

These are among the burning issues at play in the hearts and minds of the people of this country.

And so these are the heart cries the people want addressed, so that abject poverty, school dropout, teenage pregnancy, alcoholism and drug addiction, back-way or illegal migration, and misery can be put under arrest.

“We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom”

Dwight D. Eisenhower