The
time for the Coalition is too short, Please do not try to bite more than you
can chew.
Please
remember that that you have just signed a contract with the Gambian people to
rule them for three years and give them back their country in three years. At
the end of three years, you must have to come back to them to ask for another
mandate. At that time (at the end of three years), you have two options;
either:
1. You come back to them as a coalition
(if you think you did a good job during the
3 year mandate)
or
2. Dissolve the coalition and go back to
your various parties (because the country shall be available to all qualified
Gambians in three years who wants to lead it)
This
is a very simple contract that you have just signed with the Gambian people. Do
not make it complicated for yourselves by letting power get into your heads. If
you make the same mistake as the previous regime, it might be your Waterloo!
The
Road Map for success
1. President-elect, Adama Barrow needs to
Immediately Form a Coalition Government without any delay as soon as he is
officially sworn- in.
2. Squash the convictions of all political
prisoners in The Gambia and release them immediately
3. Provide adequate security for the
Coalition Government and people of the Gambia and all foreign residents of the
Gambia.
4. Dedicate the entire Government towards
National Institutions Building and Strengthening.
5. Empanel a Constitution Revision
Commission.
6. Empanel a robust Truth and
Reconciliation Commission to know the truth first; and meticulously act upon
the findings and recommendations of such noble commission before any talk about
reconciliation.
7. President-elect, Adama Barrow and
Coalition Government Council of ministers, need to immediately Empanel a
Council of Gambian Economists and experienced technocrats within fifty days (50
days) and task them to produce a short-term economic stimulus package that will
provide jobs to the population in the short-term. (Please remember the Egyptian
revolution; our people need jobs or else their patience may run out soon for
the projected 3-year term of the coalition)
Institutions,
Institutions, Institutions!
National
Institutions Building and Strengthening
(Please
note, Except for The Gambia National Army, powers and the administrative powers
of this institutions need to be imbed in the revised new constitution not under
the supervisory powers of any future president in The Gambia, and they all
shall be headed by the title: President of……..)
That:
Gambians
(men and women) who have been honored to serve at these noble positions of our
land have a certain fixed term tenure of not less than 12 years but not more
than 12 years entirely, and renewable at the end of each four years.
That:
(a) Gambians (men and women) who shall
be honored to serve at these noble
positions of our land can be nominated only by the president but their
appointments can be confirmed only by The Gambia National Assembly with not
less than 60% of votes in The Gambia National Assembly after a debate about
their appointments,
and
that:
(b) and that their removal or firing from
these noble positions of our land can be recommended only by the president but
their removal or firing can be confirmed only by not less than 60% of votes in
The Gambia National Assembly.
Institutions
to be revamped entirely, or built from scratch and or be adequately
strengthened by the Coalition Government are:
1. The Gambia National Army
2. The Gambia National Supreme Court (to
be headed by the title: President of……..)( we don’t need foreigner law
experts or other experts at home any
more, that is why I should use the word “national” in all these
recommendations)
3. The Gambia National Appeals Court (to
be headed by the title: President of……..)
4. The Gambia National Constitution Court
(to be headed by the title: President of……..)
5. The Gambia National Human Rights Court
(to be headed by the title: President of……..)
6. The Gambia National Specialized High
Court for Economic Crimes against the State of The Gambia (to be headed by the
title: President of……..)
7. The Gambia National Elections
Commission (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
8. The Gambia Government Ethics Commission
(to be headed by the title: President of……..)
9. The Gambia Government Civil Service
Commission (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
10. The Gambia National Trades and
Professions Council (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
11. The Gambia National Financial Services
Council (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
12. The Gambia National Education
Accreditations Council (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
13. The Gambia National Technological &
Communications Council (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
14. The Gambia National Labour & Employment
Council (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
15. The Gambia National Women and Children’s
Council (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
16. The Gambia National Audits Council (to
be headed by the title: President of……..)
17. The Gambia National Citizens Complaints
and Complaints Redressing Council (to be headed by the title: President of……..)
All
these Institutions (Except for The Gambia National Army) must be mandated with
their powers etched and imbedded in our revised constriction with guaranteed
budgets promulgated by the constitution so that no future presidential feat or
interference can imped their abilities to operate independently under the laws
of The Gambia. Always try to be guided by these words in our National Anthem. Please
make sure they mean something this time.
For
The Gambia, our homeland
We
strive and work and pray,
That
all may live in unity,
Freedom
and peace each day.
Let
justice guide our actions
Towards
the common good,
And
join our diverse peoples
To
prove man’s brotherhood.
We
pledge our firm allegiance,
Our
promise we renew;
Keep
us, great God of nations,
To
The Gambia ever true.
Author: Manding Darboe
New
York