President-elect
Adama Barrow has set up a 7-member committee to carve the roadmap, in concert
with the nation, for The Gambia’s development path. He declared this strategy
in his New Year message to the nation. The following is the message of the
President-elect:
NEW
YEAR MESSAGE 2017
PRESIDENT
ELECT ADAMA BARROW
25th
December 2016
Today
is Christmas Day. It is a day of thanksgiving and prayers for Christians all
over the world and a day of solidarity from Muslims, in particular, and all
peace loving people.
I
would like to take this opportunity to wish all peace-loving people a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.
Three
weeks ago, the Nation went to the polls in peace and tranquility. The Election
Results were declared in peace and tranquility and I was declared a winner in
peace and tranquility. The votes were counted on the spot and all contenders
who had committed and honest polling/counting agents knew the results of the
Elections before they were declared by the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC).
Conscience
and the Supreme National Interest dictate that we put our differences aside and
accept the verdict of the people so that peace and tranquility will prevail in
our homeland.
I
would urge all Gambians to work together to take full charge of our destiny and
resolve our differences in peace, failing which, outsiders would determine our
destiny for us, to our shame and disgrace.
I
am now the President Elect. I should assume office when the term of office of
the incumbent expires on 19th January 2017. I do not want to preside over a
country that is not at peace with itself. Hence, I am calling on all
peace-loving Gambians to advocate, pray and work for a peaceful transfer of
Executive power, for the first time in our history since Independence. If the
colonialists could peacefully hand over Executive power in accordance with the
dictates of the people of The Gambia, we the citizens should be able to show a
better example to our children.
I
would like to conclude by assuring you that I will spare no effort to ensure
that The Gambia remains a Secular, Democratic, Sovereign country which would
protect the right of each Gambian to hold and practice the religion or creed of
one’s choice without any hindrance or discrimination.
To
ensure that the country realizes its full potential when I assume office, I
have already Commissioned the establishment of a Think Tank, namely Agency For
Sustainable Socio-Economic Development (ASSED), comprising 7 experts in the
areas of Politics, Civil, Economic, Social, Culture and the Environment to coordinate the mobilization of experts who
would prepare the developmental blueprint of my government.
ASSED
will be headed by a prominent member of my team and will be charged with the
responsibility of inviting Gambian experts and concerned friends of the Gambia
to send their CVs so as to establish an Expert Bank.
ASSED
will then put together experts in relevant sectors to develop sectoral
blueprints of our three-year development Agenda, 2017 -2020.
The
experts will be required to present a development blueprint, namely Programme
For Poverty Eradication, Sustainable Socio-Economic Development and Development
Cooperation to the shadow Cabinet on 14th January 2017 so that the Government
will hit the ground running after my inauguration on 19th January 2017.
During
my campaign I did tell you, the people of the Gambia, that I have a strong team
to rely on to meet your aspiration for inclusiveness in building a country
which would ensure National Unity in
Freedom, Peace and Prosperity for all.
Let
us all pray and counsel the Outgoing Government to give peace a chance so that
our peace-loving people will be protected from any harm as we enter a New Year
of hope.
Let
us all make a pledge as a New Year resolution that we will ever be true to our
homeland, The Republic of The Gambia.
Forward
Ever!!! Backward Never!!!
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