A
veteran banker who is the chairman of Gambia Revenue Authority has said that
The Gambia could follow the pathway of Germany to development, saying the
European country was able to recover from the total destruction of the World
War II and develop as a result of discipline and education.
Mamour
Malick Jagne said Gambians and everyone in The Gambia has to respect authority
to better enjoy the democracy that exists in the country, noting that without
discipline and respect for authority, democracy is meaningless.
Mr
Jagne, also the executive secretary of the Gambia Bankers Association (GBA),
made this remark at the 9th edition of the GRA Staff and Award ceremony held at
a hotel in Kololi on Friday.
He
said Germany was able to develop after the complete destruction of the country
during the 2nd World War to become one of the strongest economies in Europe
because of discipline and education.
“Gambians
need to learn from the experience of Germany and Singapore and nurture
discipline individually and collectively, both at family level and national
level, to better build strong foundation for our economy,” he said.
“During
the 2nd World War, Germany was dropped to the ground, the capital doesn’t even
have good road but today Germany is the strongest economic in Western Europe.”
“I
am saying this because Germany and Gambia in some way have drastic experience
but Germany was able to make it because of individual and organisational
disciple and education.”
“I
want to appeal to all of you to always remember that discipline starts from you, don’t expect
others to be disciplined while you are not; you yourselves have to be
discipline.”
“Singapore
got its independence in 1965, like The Gambia.
The country used to have similar characteristics with The Gambia at the
time of independence but by 1980, Singapore was so strong that it becomes first
world class country; its reserves are in billions of dollars.”
“The
most critical things that Singapore used were education and discipline. Then for The Gambia also to make it, we have
to be educated and disciplined.”
“I
think it is appropriate at this juncture in the life of The Gambia that we
learn from the experience of Germany and Singapore.”
Mr
Jagne thanked the staff and management of GRA for honouring their staff while
also imploring the staff to continue to be more committed, devoted and honest
in their work to boost the good image of the GRA.
