#Editorial

Good Morning Mr. President: On security, AKI, Diaspora & Gamcel

Jan 3, 2023, 12:22 PM

Mr. President, we have entered a New Year (2023) with a plethora of burning issues to be addressed.

First is security, the former president Yahya Jammeh on the 17 December 2022 made a statement that he was coming back to regain power, three days before your government announced an abortive coup plot.

Since ex-president Jammeh is a security threat to your government, you should work closely with ECOWAS for his immediate arrest and trial, not in the Gambia but an ECOWAS country for security reasons.

He has not respected the rules of asylum by interfering in Gambian politics thus undermining security in the country.

It is good move in calling for reconciliation and team work as Gambians. Ministers and security chiefs should urgently come together to discuss and plan for the future before it is too late.

The agreements should be reviewed and the technicians should go to work to ensure clarity as mistakes cannot be allowed.

There used to be joint Military exercises during the first republic and bringing them back will strengthen the security of our Senegambia area and the subregion amongst others.

The victims during the 22 years of atrocities are waiting for their balances of payment on reparations.

Mr. President, about 70 children died through the Indian syrups, their parents need compensation.

Legal action must be taken against the manufacturer based in India.

Mr. President, the Diaspora contributing greatly to our economy should be the 8th region of the country.

They should have voting rights and get facilities to do business in the country and be assisted to buy lands and other properties.

As you promised before the end of your term in introducing a term limit, people are anxiously waiting for the Anti Corruption Bill and a Commission to be set.

It's time for your government to invite investors to participate and promote housing schemes to enable low income earners to get houses and pay within a reasonable timeframe for them to own it in the end.

Mr. President, publishers of newspapers are appealing to permanent secretaries and heads of parastatals and departments to pay their bills on time because printing materials are expensive and owners are struggling to sustain their business.

Mr. President, your government should take strict measures on social media users that insult people or cause security threats.

Recently, we heard an audio making rounds on social media threatening to burn down the house of Governent Spokesman Ebrima G. Sankareh and also insulting him. That should not be condoned in the New Gambia. We are now in a democratic country. People speak their minds and have the right to support any political party.

Mr. President, another matter your government should prioritise is the improvement of internet service. The internet should be affordable to every Gambian. Gamcel, which is facing serious financial problems owing to lack of good and sufficient equipment to improve its network, needs a bailout.

With this situation, the institution should either be privatised or sold for shareholding.

Mr. President, the National Road Authority should embark on rehabilitating feeder roads within the streets in the KM. The public transport should be expanded as people get stranded to go for business or schools.

Finally Mr. President, the traffic police should work on plans to eliminate or minimise traffic jams.

Happy New Year Mr. President, your family, members of your government, readers and advertisers of The Point.

Good day!

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