Yusupha
Bojang, acting senior Programme Officer at the National Council for Civic
Education (NCCE), has said that democracy does not mean castigating, abusing
and insulting people or using words that could bring confusing among people.
Mr
Bojang made these remarks on Saturday at Gunjur during a sensitisation meeting
on democracy and responsible citizenship organised by his office.
The
sensitisation, which aims at raising awareness on democracy in the new Gambia
and responsible citizenship, targeted 20 communities within the West Coast
Region.
According
to Bojang, they understand that there is a lot of misconception about
democracy. There is also the use of abusive language about democracy with
people acting in manners that are not in conformity with democracy and the rule
of law, hence the need for the sensitisation.
“We
thought it prudent to reach out to communities, especially youth and women to
raise their awareness on what democracy entails as well as their rights and
responsibilities as stated in the constitution and other national documents,”
he explained.
The
acting NCCE senior program officer pointed out that democracy does not mean
there is no law in the country so people could do whatever they wanted.
He
added that democracy guarantees freedoms, which include freedom of speech but
people are abusing it.
Kebba
K. Barrow, National Assembly Member for Kombo South and the Majority Leader,
said The Gambia is opportune to have decided in December and would continue to
decide.
He
stated that Gambians deciding is an opportunity for them to reflect and to
ensure they work with government in implementing the Blueprint to the letter
and ensuring that democracy, good governance, accountability and the rule of
law are upheld in the country.
“One
Gambia, one nation, one people is an opportunity for all of us to uphold
democracy which is important in our lives as well as uphold good governance to
ensure people’s lives and properties are protected,” he went on.
He
described the sensitization as very important for government development plans
and thanked the NCCE.
Omar
Giki Darboe, Gunjur Alkalo, thanked the NCCE for enlightening citizens,
assuring that the knowledge gained would be shared with those who were not
fortunate to attend.
Demba
Jobe Touray, Gunjur Village Development Committee Chairman, remarked that as
citizens they should ask themselves what they have done for their country
rather than what the country has done for them.
He
challenged all, particularly youth to be engaged in national development.
