A
new political party called Citizen’s Alliance (CA) was officially launched on
Friday, 29 November, at a local hotel in Kololi.
The
party which says it seeks to lift Gambian people out of poverty with dignity,
transparency, equality, good governance and inclusive development, is headed by
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Faffie Diab, and Dominic Mendy.
It
promises to priorities rural citizens, social cohesion, civil liberties, social
justice and to promote good governance for the people and by the people.
One
of the founders of the party, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay said the party is the product
of a group of concerned citizens who are disappointed with the current situation
in the country because of the lack of action and strategy that affect the lives
of average citizens.
“So
many Gambians sustain their living from hand to mouth. Today, most of them are
dying due to lack of proper facilities and qualified health personnel,” the
University of The Gambia political science lecturer Dr Ceesay said.
The
party’s interim chairperson Dominic Mendy, said the new platform is to
transform the Gambia into a nation of opportunity and prosperity. “This
Alliance is established to form a direction not just to win elections, but to
secure the future of the nation; a future where young people and our economy
will be secured and defended.”
Mr
Mendy said after 22 years of dictatorship and the peaceful change of government
in 2016, Gambians should have the capacity to choose well from evil, adding
that citizens invest lot of trust in their leaders.
He
said 3 years after the change of government, people are still not satisfied
with the system of government. “What should take to change our nation and to
make The Gambia achieve prosperity and security; cannot be achieved through
tribalism, corruption and constitutional feudalism.”
He
said they have reason to ensure that this time, Gambia does not encounter or
suffer from another false start, saying this time, the country must find the
solution.
Mr
Mendy also stated that the Party has chosen to take responsibility and to make
the sacrifices needed to move this nation to a new direction.
Faffie
Diab, the party’s national mobiliser said they have gone all over the Gambia
but most of the rural areas do not have proper fertilities, expressing concern
over the country’s poor health system.
He
said part of the vision of the CA is to empower women and their health
especially in the area of birth. The party has proposed to hold its first
congress in February 2020.
