Ref
: IP/1/13/1/2020/1 13TH
January 2020
Mr
Ousainou Darboe
UDP
Party Leader
UDP
Headquarters
Manjai
Dear
Honourable Darboe,
SUBJECT: CAPTION PUBLISHED IN THE 13TH JANUARY EDITION OF THE VOICE
Our
attention has been drawn to an article published in the 13th January 2020 issue
of The Voice Newspaper with the caption: “DARBOE ATTACKS PDOIS LEADERSHIP,
DESCRIBES LEADERS AS PHONY POLITICIANS”
A
careful review of the content does not reveal any quotation from you mentioning
PDOIS by name or the name of any member of the PDOIS leadership.
Moreover,
the content does not fit our brand of politics which is knowledge based and
cannot be reconciled with any attempt to deceive anyone. Speaking the truth in
good faith in the public interest is the cardinal principle that guides our
conduct in our quest for any position of leadership in our home land.
Section
104 of the Elections Act categorically states:
“Subject
to the provisions of this Part, political parties may be established to--
(a) participate in the shaping of the
political will of the people;
(b) disseminate information of political ideas
and on political, economic and social programmes of national character; and
(c
) sponsor candidates for public elections.”
Our
party subscribes to the letter and spirit of the provision.
We
strongly believe that the political platform should be utilised for the battle
of ideas and policies between political parties on how to address the needs and
aspirations of the electorate and should not be transformed into a theatre to
wage a battle of insults, subterfuges and tirades aimed at negating the integrity
of the political leaders in the country. This may be justified only in self
defence against the politically uncouth and indecent.
Since
we do not classify you among such a
category of political actors, we consider it wise, right and proper, to address
this memorandum to you to inquire whether the journalist extracted what is
alleged in the caption from any remarks you made, that are specifically directed at PDOIS or any member
of its leadership.
While
anticipating your prompt response, please accept, dear compatriot, the
assurances of our highest consideration and fraternal esteem.
Yours
in the Service of the people,
Halifa
Sallah
Secretary General
