Mr.
President, first of all we appreciate the sense of maturity demonstrated by the
security chiefs, civil society and executive members of the 3 Years Jotna
movement in reaching a peaceful dialogue to postpone the much talked about 19
January protest now to 26 January, on which they will be given permit and
security protection. However, thankfully, yesterday marked your three years in
office.
Mr.
President, it’s time that your government focuses on NDP and not to allow these
protests to distract the progress made.
These
unnecessary protests are really affecting businesses in the country as people
live with fear and also afraid to invest into business and tourism, our second
earning foreign exchange has also been affected.
Mr.
President, in as much as it’s the right of every citizen to protest, it’s not
also good for our economy.
You
must take stance to regularise the situation and not to be issuing permit to every
Tom, Dick and Harry to demonstrate on any unnecessary issue. Be firm and
address the situation before it’s too late as these protests are damning the
economy of the country.
Mr.
President, the last hour permit that was granted to the APRC party to demonstrate
for the return of Ex-president Yahya Jammeh has caused mix feelings in the
minds of Gambians.
Mr. President, with the Janneh Commission
findings against Jammeh, the testimonies of perpetrators and the victims at the
TRRC, it will be too soon to consider Jammeh’s return to the country.
Jammeh
seems to be taking advantage of the slack security of the country as he is
quoted in the recent audio shared on social media as saying “even the frogs in
the country know that they are not safe.”
Mr.
President, we have other preoccupations to focus on rather than protests. We
should look forward to bring down the rate of inflation, improve the health and
education sectors, construct roads etc. and make sure we are on right tract.
Anybody who has grievance should go to the courts and seek for redress there.
Mr.
President, it’s important for people to know that conducting elections requires
registration of voters and issuing of new voters’ cards to new voters who
turned 18 years three years ago and to replace lost and damaged cards and also
those that were issued to non-Gambians.
We
also have to go for referendum to adopt the new constitution. All these involve
money and time so we are appealing to every Gambian to have patience and adhere
to the five years as stipulated in the constitution.
Next
year, by God willing, people can elect their choice not by the barrel of the
gun but by ballot to lead the country, as this is the best option.
Mr.
President our relations with Senegal should not be jeopardised by the Senegalese
transport union who always cause problems with Gambian drivers.
Recently
Gambian buses were not allowed to enter Senegal when they had all valid
documents. His Excellency Bassirou Sene, the new Senegalese High Commissioner
intervened and brought about normalisation.
Mr.
President, your government should meet with your colleague President Sall’s
government to trash out any problems which can affect the relations of the two
countries.
When
you assumed office in 2017, it was agreed that you and President Sall would
meet every six months with members of your government either in Banjul or Dakar
to discuss issues affecting the two countries.
Senegal
and The Gambia should be a role model for Africa by promoting good
neighbourliness, free movement of people and goods without hindrance.
Finally
Mr. President, try and solve the problem of transport between the two
countries. The good cooperation of security is needed to combat terrorists,
drug trafficking, counterfeit medicines and money laundering.
Good
day!
