This clarion call was made by Baboucarr Bouy, minister for Public Service, Administrative Reform, Policy Coordination and Delivery on behalf of the president at a national dialogue held at the Conference Center on Sunday.
“I invite all political parties and Gambians to join us for national development purposes. No individual or single party can stay in power forever. Working together, we can ensure a smooth transition of government from generation to generation without any hostility, civil war, bloodshed or military takeover,” President Barrow said.
“In truth, there is no issue we cannot discuss. No circumstance that prohibits us from dialoguing, and no legal reason stopping us from living peacefully in the country we all call home. We operate through national plans, policies, projects, programmes, institutions, procedures, laws and regulations. All these are big enough to accommodate all of us and they belong to no one, just as the nation belongs to no one.”
“All of them are man-made. They spring from thought processes and are ideas that are liable to scrutiny and refinement. This makes it possible for every citizen to contribute to such instruments.”
“Therefore, the way our institutions work or how our programmes unfold depends entirely on us. This is a forum to discuss such national matters. To examine them, all we require is to simplify the issues under discussion, find a middle ground and agree on the best options.”
“As head of state, I passionately want to work with all Gambians, be they at home or in the Diaspora. In the same way, as a party leader and a citizen, I extend a hand of cooperation to everyone.”
President Barrow further stated that the 2024 independence triggered lively discussions, “however, the theme for this year, which is ‘Marching in Solidarity for Self-Reliance and National Development’, is not only excitingly relevant but also positions us to look forward more constructively to the next 40 years when the country will celebrate its centenary anniversary.”
“These thoughts should motivate us to begin the search for answers on what we must do urgently in the coming four decades to really make the Gambia a dreamland for all Gambians.”
“We must march together, that is, in solidarity, use our human and material resources to develop the country speedily. From a socio-political perspective, marching figuratively means walking collectively and it has both horizontal and vertical dimensions.”
“It can come about through our structures at various levels, formal and informal. In other words, we must work collectively through our governance structures, institutions, communities, families, social groupings and through every individual. This means that, first and foremost, we must submit to the Constitution and laws of the land,” he said.
