The
government of President Adama Barrow has so far secured $25 million to support
farmers for the upcoming rainy season which is less than four months away.
“So
far $25 million is available from the Islamic Development Bank to support
farmers with groundnut seeds and fertilisers for the upcoming rainy season,”
President Barrow said in a press statement issued at the weekend.
He
said during his recent tour of the county, people have expressed the need for
urgent support for agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers and farm
implements.
“I
have taken note of the urgent needs of Gambians,” Barrow said in the statement
issued following Thursday National Assembly election.
Below
we reproduce the press statement of President Barrow.
Good
evening Fellow Gambians and friends of The Gambia,
Today
I am delighted that Gambians have demonstrated that they want to nurture the
change they have made in December 2016 Presidential elections. We have chosen
our representatives through the ballot box and sent a clear signal that The
Gambia has the power to decide and has indeed
decided on who to represent them in the National Assembly.
On
the 6th April, Gambians entrusted their votes to 53 candidates out of 238
across the political parties, who vied for the National Assembly.
I
thank all Gambians for going through the campaign in a mature and peaceful
manner to canvass for votes. The
unprecedented number of candidates in this National Assembly election is a
manifestation of the freedom Gambians have begun to enjoy since the change of
government in December 2016. This is one
of the first great achievements of the new Gambia. We would continue to ensure that the desire
of Gambians to have freedom of expression and association is respected and
entrenched. We have ensured that the law
that puts a financial barrier to the effective participation of citizens in
elections is reviewed. Thereby, the deposit for National Assembly elections was
reduced from GMD50,000 to GMD5,000. This
made it possible for more Gambians to exercise their rights to run for a seat
in the national assembly, and thus 239 candidates were initially registered
with the Independent Electoral Commission.
Fellow
Gambians, this election has further strengthened my Coalition government by
having the required strength of representation in the Assembly. The National Assembly will be able to support
the right laws and policies for our government to bring about the legal,
institutional and economic reforms that Gambians have assigned us to move the
country forward.
During
my recent tour of the county, I have taken note of the urgent needs of Gambians
such as the need for drugs in our health facilities, infrastructural
development such as feeder roads, electricity and clean water supply amongst
others. Our people have also expressed
the need for urgent support for agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers
and farm implements. All these will
require the support of the National Assembly as an oversight institution to
make sure that the quality of governance is strengthened, laws are respected
and the policies are implemented.
Fellow
Citizens, this transitional government needs to build a strong foundation that
future governments can build upon to make sure that we transform and sustain
our institutions as well as provide economic growth. We can only succeed by working together as a
nation. While we respect our diversity
in opinion, we can always come to consensus to build our nation. I call on all Gambians no matter which party
they belong, to join hands and work as Gambians. So far $25 million is available from the
Islamic Development Bank to support farmers with groundnut seeds and
fertilizers for the upcoming rainy season.
I
congratulate the winners and better luck next time to the losers. Emotions may be high when the results were
announced but I urge all Gambians to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that
prevailed during the campaign. My
government will not accept post-election violence to disrupt our focus for
nation building. Gambians have decided
and their verdict must be respected. The
world is watching and we can be a model for democracy.
Fellow
Gambians, I urge all of us to put our positive energies together and stand
strong in building the New Gambia. We want a Gambia where citizens will enjoy
their freedom and dignity through socioeconomic development and respect for the
rule of law.
I
would like to conclude by thanking all our partners, including the United
Nations Development Programme, the European Union, ECOWAS and all other
partners who supported the Independent Electoral Commission – IEC and The
Gambia in general with financial and technical support to have a successful and
peaceful election. I also commend
friends of the Gambia, Gambians in the Diaspora, and the local and
international observers for a job well done.
I
would like to thank all institutions including the security forces for making
it possible for our citizens to exercise their franchise.
Long
Live the United People of The Gambia.
Forward
Ever! Backward Never!
Thank
you!
