The theme of this year’s dialogue focuses appropriately on “Harnessing The Gambia’s Human Capital and Infrastructural Resources for an Inclusive Leap to Prosperity”.
He stated: "The people must always be the agents, the catalysts and the objects and beneficiaries of any process of development. They must be the engine of development. And they must be its beneficiaries.
"We must harness the potential of our human capital. We can do so successfully however, if we invest in our human resources, particularly the youthful population in order to make them effective participants in our national development process."
He explained that investment in education, training and capacity building must be and remain a key priority for national development. "It is indeed the key to national development".
He said: "I look forward to the day indeed of quality, relevant, compulsory education being available to all Gambians at all levels from nursery to university to professional levels."
He added: “For a nation that does not enjoy the luxury of other national resources, the development of our human resources must not only be seen as a matter of human rights for our citizens but as the key to our national progress.”
He mentioned that the Judiciary capacity building of the workforce is one of the eight objectives of the Judiciary Strategic Plan. During the Plan period, following its launch by President Adama Barrow, some significant measures have been undertaken in this regard, with the support of government and partners in the justice sector.
Justice Jallow noted that the continuation of the training programs both at the local and external level could contribute to the increased efficiency of the machinery of justice.
However, he said, the two previous dialogues gave them the opportunity to identify and to reaffirm their commitment to the core national values of democracy, of adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights, accountability and to social and economic progress.
"And to the specific resolution of disputes and differences,” he explained, “as we reaffirm our collective commitment to these values, we need to be guided by the old adage that democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people."
He indicated that the holding of the gathering for three successive years since its inception “is a strong demonstration of the continued relevance of the forum for the collective reaffirmation of our core national values, the review of our current challenges” and the charting of a way forward in meeting these challenges.
He called on all the stakeholders for their continued commitment to the process of dialogue, and to the organisers for an all-inclusive approach bringing together all relevant into the process.
