We
open this National Dialogue by a brief interview with Charles Sarr Thomas a
retired Civil Servant of The Gambia.
Q.
Brieflytell us your experience in National Development, with special reference
to The Gambia.
VV.
I have served from 1975 to 1998, as a civil servant in Public as well as
Development Administration, and in Regional Governance.
Q.
How do you see the present Administration, The Government of President Adama
Barrow?
VV.
when my attention is drawn to President Barrow, two important facts come to
mind; firstly, he is the legally elected president of The Gambia, whose tenure
in office under the existing constitution is five years, that is one
incontrovertible fact as far as our constitutional law goes. Secondly, I feel
President Barrow‘s struggle during the pre-election of 2016, during the
political impasse and the subsequent transition, have not only been impressive
but also highly successful indeed. So, first and foremost I have to
congratulate President Barrow, if even belatedly, for a clear election victory;
I have to convey appreciation for his selfless dedication to the political
struggle that ousted the previous regime. One should not quickly forget his
personal sacrifices and achievement that brought about the change that we now
want to change, He needs to be commended and appreciated.
Regarding
“3-Years Jotna” it is not illegal for the jotna group to vent frustration or
disappointment as the case maybe, over the president’s announcement of his
intention to complete a 5-year term and even be a runner in the forthcoming
elections due in 2021. The group’s position not being illegal, the honest
answer as we all know, is for this democratic country to allow for dissent
provided always that this is demonstrated in a peaceful and non-violent manner.
On
the part of President Barrow, is there any illegality pursuing his political
ambitions? Surely, not!
Q.
If President Barrow has broken a promise
to the Gambian people as overwhelmingly claimed by his critics, and now opts to
complete his term in office and subsequently also stands for the 2021
elections, how do you see his chances of convincing a disappointed electorate;
Can he win an election?
W.
Having already won one election, who can say he cannot win another? No one
knows and there is plenty of time between now and 2021.
On
one hand some may have chosen to forget about the promise and proceed to vote
for him. On the other hand he may face stiff opposition. We should recognize
that the way the new constitution is unfolding, with age limits removed and
pardoned convictions not constituting a bar to presidential candidates, we may
even see members of the old guard such as UDP leader Mr. Darboe run for
president.
We
should remember that the UDP is already a very big party in numbers as well as
influence.
Q:
That may be the case, but do you see the old guard ever being able to make an
impression, to make any significant political impact, to do any damageon the
electorate field, so to speak?
VV:The
“electoral field” you say, whose field is it? The electorate, I presume.It will
then be for the electorate to decide.
Q.
Let us come back to President Barrow, How well is he faring as the country’s
leader, regarding the country’s development and progress?
VV.
President Barrow has rolled to the Gambian people a development blue-print
called the NDP.Public opinion, if I am correct, seems to be that the plan is a
good one, well-conceived, well-articulated, and captures the general
aspirations of the Gambian people. What remains however is implementation;
efficient and effective implementation.
Q.
Is this presently happening? Is the Barrow government implementing efficiently
and effectively? Is President Barrow delivering as expected?
VV.
Well, I wish public expectations were easy to gauge because expectations may
vary and expectations may be polarized. Also people do vary; one man’s meat may
be another man’s poison, as the saying goes, But regarding our plan
implementation, in terms of its rate and level, it all seems very slow and low
to many people who have made public utterances to that effect. One only has to
listen to HOT –FM on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and confirm this statement;
HOT-FM among other media outlets. This is what some are saying.
Q.
Why is this the case in your view?
VV:
This is my view: the NDP as we must have realized is a cumbersome document, to
say the least. It is so from point of view not only of size but of what it sets
out to accomplish. If we say it is reasonable, we would not be saying the
truth; in fact it is ponderous and somewhat over-ambitious for a 3 –year
period.
In
such a case why do we not adapt what most development institutions do; that is
to say breaking down the plan into terms – IMMEDIATE, SHORT, MEDIUM AND
LONG.?For example just coming out of the situation we have been through, could
the first two years not be used as an immediate term for focusing mainly on the
important transitional matters such as the CRC, TRRC, sector reforms, and the
most urgent and critical matters including the stabilization of our power
supply, providing basic needs, transport and communication.Regular projects
could thereafter be phased in projections of at least 5 years at a time. What meaningful development
can one achieve in 3 years (i.e 2018-2021)??
TheNDP
need to be broken down to not only phases but also into projects and programmes
which could be assessed individually and separately. Contrasted to a global
plan Yes, I would agree that a plan is just a plan, but I would agree more with
the proposition that, first and foremost a plan should be realistic.
A. What measures should now be put in
place in order to avert economic malaise and to put the country on course of
economic development and progress. Should the president resign and leave the
leadership to others with the capability and the capacity to take this country
forward?
VV.
what guarantees have we that handing over is the best solution, any solution at
all? Why can we not make use of all the human competencies around us. If I were
president I would just go straight on and engage those who can deliver; and not
even try to show preference to tribe, gender, religion, or political
affiliation?
We
look around and we can see some Gambian veteran professionals, technicians,
development experts, whose expertise could be well utilized in the present
stage of our national development. Veteran experts could be engaged on short
term of two or three years to serve as counterpart experts or mentors to the
present government officials in public service or in State Owned Enterprises. A
similar arrangement in the 70’s and 80’s brought about very positive results to
our national economic development under reputable international arrangements.
That produced among other economic successes the nationally and internationally
acclaimed ERP (Economic Recovery Program) of the late 80’s and
follow-onPSD(Program for sustainable Development); a steady annual percentage growth in GDP, very competitive
exchange rate, export earnings from
local manufacturing enterprises, and
high revenue from productive sectors, among other results; particularly
arrangements under technical and economic cooperation programs among developing
countries. This counterpart arrangement is a type of collaborative programming
that enables and promotes the transfers of expertise, skills and technology in
the most friendly, hands –on working environment. The government must consider
employing the experience and know-how of these Veteran Gambian experts to
complement government’s development efforts.
Q.
What are your parting words, what would you like to advise?
VV.
You know,Gambia has been suddenly confronted with a shipwreck; a shipwreck of
the “ ship of State”. So we need to call in the shipwrights who constructed the
ship, perhaps these can help bring back the situation to normal.
