Mr.
President, first of all, we take this opportunity to wish you, your family,
government and the entire Muslim population a Ramadan Mubarak.
May
Allah forgive us our sins, accept our prayers and fasting.
Mr.
President, we appreciate your decision to start unleashing your covid-19 relief
programme which has long been anticipated by many Gambians.
During
these past weeks, many philanthropists, organisations, institutions,
pharmacies, area councils, political parties and individuals launched their
various covid-19 relief programme initiatives and started distributing food
items to needy families. These gestures were welcomed by all and we thank all
of them for a job well done.
Together
we can make a difference and can combat this pandemic, coronavirus from our
country.
Mr.
President, your decision to pardon 115 prisoners and launch of your covid-19
relief programmes to assist the needy in the whole country couldn’t have come
at a better time than during this holy month of Ramadan.
We
are expecting more to come whilst taking into consideration the water and
electricity bills, more reduction on the price of fuel to help drivers recover
losses caused by the reduced number of passengers and waiving school fees for
students etc.
It’s
gratifying to note that the Finance minister told the press on Friday that he
would seek approval from the National Assembly over the D1 billion from IMF,
and then inform them about the expenditures.
Mr.
President, We are now in the era of transparency, accountability and good
governance to boost your legacy. Your government should be accountable for any
financial transaction and present statements of incomes and expenditures to the
National Assembly and later to the media who can relay the message to the
populace.
Mr.
President, all health workers including cleaners of the hospitals and public
health, security officers and immigration officers controlling the borders should
be remunerated as they are all doing a good job to prevent the spread of the
covid-19 in The Gambia. Health workers should conduct more tests countrywide
especially at border areas.
More
sensitisation should be done as many people in The Gambia do not know that
there are three categories of getting the virus; the imported one,
contamination from the patients and the most dangerous according to doctors,
community transmission. People need to be educated on the need for social
distancing and regular washing of hands and remove the notion that covid-19 is
politically motivated.
Streets,
public places and markets should regularly be sprayed.
Finally
Mr. President, the distribution of your food relief items should be done
equally without any discrimination or political affiliations.
Distributors
should be neutral, honest and do it with transparency.
Good
day!
