Amidst
threat to the Gambia’s social cohesion due to rising phenomenon of tribalism,
president-elect Adama Barrow has said that tribe and tribal sentiments are not
of importance to him, as he is above such divisive tools of society.
“For
me, the importance of tribe is just communication,” he told journalists on
Thursday during the first press conference, after the election, organised by
the in-coming coalition government at Kairaba Hotel in Kololi.
“My
humble self, I belong to all tribes: I am Mandinka, I am a Fula and Sarahuleh
and my last two sisters are married to Jolas.
I have nothing against Jolas.”
Barrow’s
comment is in reaction to the fact that the seed of tribalism that had been
planted in The Gambia in the past two decades has now started to germinate,
threatening the social fabric of the country.
However,
the new president said even though he is concerned and recognised the rising
tribal sentiment as a problem, it is being “overemphasised”.
“I
think people are exaggerating it. I
don’t think it has got to that level. I
recognise it as a problem, but I don’t think it is that serious as some people
are taking it to be.”
Job
creation
Unemployment
rate in The Gambia has reached an all-time high of about 30 per cent, from 22
per cent in 2010, according to Trading Economics. More than 40 per cent of those who are
employed live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day.
President-elect
Barrow said they are not oblivious of that fact and have already identified job
creation through investment in manufacturing, fishing, and agriculture as
priority sectors for employment creation.
“We
can assure you that we are very committed to job creation,” he said.
He
further explained that the fishing industry is one of the sectors that will be
explored to create jobs for the youths, adding that the potentials of the
sector as a source of employment have not been fully explored over the years.
In
the area of agriculture, he said even though the back-to-the-land syndrome has
been there, it has not been backed by adequate policies to create meaningful
employment for the youths.
The
coalition government will also create avenues and encourage investors to invest
in manufacturing and other economic ventures.
“We
will encourage investors to invest in the country, to invest in light
industries. We cannot just be importing,
we have to produce and in the process create jobs.
“But
for that to happen, there should be affordable and reliable electricity. So we would also work on electricity
provision because it is paramount to my government.”
Poverty
at breaking point
“The
poverty level is at a breaking point,” president-elect Barrow said.
According
to World Bank statistics, about half of Gambia’s population lives below the
poverty line, as of 2010, making it very difficult for households to acquire
adequate food provisions.
But
Barrow said the country “was saved on 1st December 2016” by voting for him as
president against incumbent Yahya Jammeh.
The
high level of poverty has to do also with The Gambia’s isolation in the
international community, according to the president-elect.
“The
Gambia was sort of isolated, and that has affected the country seriously.
“But
we are encouraged by the support of the international community, since our
election. They are very willing to work
with Gambia. They are even saying we
should start to work now. I think that
partnership we would build with the international community will make a
difference in the lives of the Gambian people.”
Three
years enough
The
coalition president said even before signing the coalition agreement, they had
thought about the three-year transition period.
“We
hope we can finish what we want to do in the three years,” he said, adding that
the essential thing they want to do is to build a foundation for “a new
democracy” in The Gambia.
“I
think three years is enough for that,” he said.
“We will work very hard to finish the job in three years.”
Given
the magnitude of work the in-coming government has tasked itself to do, there
are concerns that three years is not feasible to undertake such reform.
But
Barrow said he has a team of experienced people and “you should have trust in
that team”.
“They
are intellectuals and the intelligent people who have been in politics for
long, and that experience is there. So
we count on that,” he affirmed.
Digging
up the past
The
president-elect said the coalition contested the election based on principles,
not personal grievance or for vengeance and that would be maintained now that
they have won the election.
“But
when we get into office, we will look into what had been happening and there
will be recommendations [as to the way forward],” he said.
“Also,
a truth and reconciliation commission will be very important; we have seen it
in South Africa and it was very helpful in knowing the truth which paves the
way for reconciliation.”
The
president-elect will officially set to work sometime in January after the
official handing over of the reins of government.
The
ongoing discussion among the coalition team about cabinet and other key
appointments would have been completed by then.
