Lower
River Region (LRR) was the latest to benefit from the National Council for
Civic Education (NCCE) civic voter education sensitization programme funded by
the UNDP.
Twenty
communities in the six districts of Jarra East, Central and West, Kiang East,
Central and West were sensitised on their rights and responsibilities as
electorates, and the importance of their active participation in politics.
The
NCCE is an independent, non-partisan council, created under the constitution,
to cultivate an environment of democratic continuity in The Gambia that would
enable all citizens to fully participate in the governance process of the
country.
This
is done through the promotion of political and civic consciousness, and the
promotion of rights and freedoms of all citizens in accordance with the
constitution of The Gambia and other regional and international human rights
instruments to which the Gambia is a signatory.
The
communities that benefited were Pakali Ba, Bureng, Sutukung, Wellingara Ba,
Jappineh, Jalangberreh, Sitahuma, Kani Kunda, Sankuya, Misira, Geniere, Sare
Samba, Kolior Nyamala, Nema, Sibito, Kwinella Sansankono, Janneh Kunda,
Karantaba, Keneba and Tankular.
Speaking at Pakali Ba village, Junkung Saidy,
NCCE senior civic officer, described elections as important, saying voting is
what brings peace, stability as well as the developments they desire.
He
said it is every citizen’s right to be involved in national development; to
vote and be voted for provided they meet the requirements, as well as have the
right to association, assembly, freedom of expression and conscience.
Mr
Saidy noted that the importance of the voter’s card is to vote for the
candidate they believe could bring national development.
“A
single vote can make one win or lose election as the country has a simple
majority system,” he went on, while urging all to go out and vote on Election
Day.
He
pointed out that all political parties in the country are equal.
He also called on women and youths to change
their attitude towards voting, saying both have the right to seek for public
office.
He
called on citizens to hold politicians accountable.
NCCE
senior civic officer further urged people not to sell their votes, and that
politics should not be run with violence.
He,
therefore, urged citizens to maintain peace during and after elections.
Kebba
O. Jobe, civic officer at NCCE, said politics comes and goes, but citizens will
live together forever and, as such, they should not allow politics to divide
them.
Musukebba
Ceesay, a native of Pakali Ba, thanked NCCE for empowering them with knowledge
that would help in their exercise of their rights as citizens.
Sonna
Manneh, also a native of Pakali Ba, said the importance of education is for one
to prosper in life, adding that they have gone past the stage to seek public
office, but will educate their children in order to become responsible
citizens.
Landing
Kintehba, a native of Bureng village, said some people refuse to vote during
elections because of lack of awareness and, therefore, commended NCCE for their
noble work.
