It
is now 100 days since President Adama Barrow was sworn in as President of The
Gambia in Dakar, Senegal, on 19 January 2017. He assumed Presidential duties in
Banjul on 30 January 2017.
Based
on accepted norms of good governance, it is incumbent on us to take stock of
his first 100 days in office, to ascertain whether he is on course to attain
the targets that embody the aspirations of Gambians.
Although
100 days is a short period in the mandate of a Head of State, it must be stated
that President Adama Barrow came to power to lead a nation that had been
subjected to 22 years of tyranny, abuse of power and economic mismanagement.
The
expectations were therefore high from the beginning because Gambians yearned
for freedom, justice, improvement in their lives and the healing of the nation,
which is polarized and fractured.
The
immediate release of political prisoners was therefore a welcome move. It
heralded the end of impunity and gave hope that human rights would be
respected.
Another
decisive step the Barrow administration took was the re-opening of all radio
stations and newspapers that were arbitrarily closed by the Jammeh
dictatorship. This was a positive sign that press freedom and freedom of
expression, a fundamental human right, had been restored.
Another
move was on judicial reform. The restoration of the credibility of the justice
system, although on-going, has seen the appointment of six Gambian legal
luminaries as superior judges, thereby ending the country’s dependence on
foreign legal experts.
On
the economic front, we have seen and welcomed the bold moves by the ministry of
Finance to put the finances of the nation in order, by re-establishing
cooperation with strategic development partners like the European Union, IMF
and the World Bank.
The
successful meeting between the Minister of Fisheries and his Senegalese
opposite number, which culminated in the signing of an agreement to improve the
management and exploitation of the fishing sector, is one of the major steps
taken to boost the Gambian economy.
Another
milestone which should be highlighted is the restoration of the policy of good
neighborliness, which has removed tension and anxiety in our relationship with
Senegal. The Senegalo-Gambian Secretariat has resumed work and economic and
social activities between our two countries have been normalised.
Although
security remains a challenge, the holding of successful negotiations to retain
some elements and military assets of ECOMIG is a wise decision, which will
guarantee stability and facilitate the restructuring of the security forces.
The Barrow administration has also taken two bold initiatives to rehabilitate
The Gambia’s image abroad.
The
rescinding of our withdrawal from the International Criminal Court and our
application to rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations has served to end our
isolation and changed our reputation as a pariah state.
The
achievements listed should not be trivialized because they are indicators of
efforts made to restore the country to a fully-fledged and functioning
democracy.
However,
the Government should now understand that after 100 days in office, “the
honeymoon” is over. Gambians generally have demonstrated patience and
understanding because of the realization that rebuilding the nation is a
herculean task. But given that all ministers have now been appointed, the
National Assembly fully-constituted, the judiciary functional and the civil
service revamped, the President must now move decisively to address the key
issues of nation building.
First
and foremost, the President should take steps to appoint a Vice President as
prescribed in the Constitution. This will mitigate what is already an untidy
vacuum in the government.
The
most important and urgent need of the population is the resolution of the energy
crisis in the country. Now that the Minister of Energy has been appointed, all
efforts should be directed at re-inventing NAWEC as a viable entity that can
provide the population with consistent and reliable electricity and water
supplies.
Solving
the energy problem will not only enhance respect for President Barrow and his
credibility but will place him in the annals of Gambian history, as the man who resolved a most
intractable problem in our development agenda.
We
also wish to urge the President to ensure that the civil service is
de-politicized with meritocracy as the only yardstick for advancement and
promotion.
The
reform of the security services with the possibility of de-mobbing police and
soldiers should be undertaken with prudence to avoid having men and women,
whose only training is in arms and ammunition, being unemployed. Experience in
other countries shows that this can lead to increased banditry and violence. On
the home front, we wish to urge the President to be more vocal in calling for
national unity.
The
nation is in need of healing and reconciliation. However, Government must take
clear, unambiguous and urgent action to address and redress the injustices of
the past regime.
Families
are still waiting for justice on murdered relatives. Many citizens are waiting
for justice on properties that were seized or confiscated illegally.
The
general perception is that the machinery is too slow and that they may be
forgotten. We understand that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be set
up, but when?
Outside
our borders, it is clear that The Gambia is enjoying the goodwill of the
International Community. We therefore wish to advise that The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs be properly organized and staffed with men and women of
knowledge and competence to undertake the important task of re-branding the country.
We
should combine diplomacy with international cooperation to attract investment,
mount robust resource mobilization campaigns and forge strategic partnerships.
Only a competent body of professional diplomats can undertake such an ambitious
and crucial task.
One
major lacuna in the first 100 days of the Barrow administration has been the
lack of a free flow of information.
There is need for the population to be informed about government
policies and activities to avoid rumour mongering, speculation and
conjecture. Government should therefore
identify a spokesperson, such as the Minister of Information, to conduct
regular press briefings.
In
addition, we urge Government to consider the appointment of Press Officers in
ministries for the consistent dissemination of information to the population
and indeed the outside world.
For
democracy to thrive and flourish in The Gambia the Government should also facilitate the development of the
private press. The repealing and abrogation of draconian laws which were
promulgated to muzzle the press and frustrate free speech and expression should
be expedited.
The
excruciating financial burden on media houses should also be ameliorated by
removing the annual D60,000 education levy, and reducing corporate tax and VAT.
Indeed
many African countries have not only
waived taxes on newspapers, but have adopted the policy of granting media
houses an annual subvention to facilitate their effective participation in the
education and enlightenment of the population.
Another
point of significance is for the Government to endeavour at all times to promptly settle its bills
with media houses when they advertise in the papers in order not to compromise
their financial integrity. It often takes months for government
institutions to settle their bills.
“Without
continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and
success have no meaning”
Benjamin
Franklin