Hon. Omar Cham, Speaker, called on the government, esteemed partners, and all relevant stakeholders to join them in prioritising the youth. “The destiny of our nation hinges on how well we empower our youth. We must understand that we are not just the leaders of tomorrow; we are the leaders of today. As the youth of The Gambia, we are primed to play an indispensable role in the development and progress of our beloved nation.”
“Let us remember that our young parliamentarians have engaged in exhaustive consultations with their constituents. They have traversed our beautiful nation, listening to the voices and concerns of our fellow citizens. This practice ensures that our deliberations and decisions are firmly grounded in the needs and aspirations of the people we represent,” Speaker Cham said.
Hon Mariama Jallow, National Youth Parliamentarian for Upper Saloum, giving her submission, said all policy makers in the country are above the youth age and therefore, “we want to be consulted and engaged in these processes to make sure we raise issues affecting youth and suggest possible solutions.”
The Member for Serekunda, Hon. Abdou Bah, stated that the National Development Plan 2023-2027 should prioritise youth in all aspects for efficient development.
He emphasized the necessity for the government to commit and take measures to ensure that young people are provided with good job opportunities. This action will enable us to curb irregular migration.
Nominated Member Hon. Sarata Ceesay, dilated that “looking at the policies and programmes we have in place, implementation is the problem. In the NDP, there is need for better consultation in the areas of women and children. Government should take the issue of women and children very serious just as any other issue.”
The youth representative for Peoples With Disabilities (PWDs), Hon. Cherno Ceesay, emphasised the necessity of empowering PWDs. This includes factoring them in all aspects of National Development.
However, Hon. Oumie Darboe representing Bundung Ka Kunda in her submission, said the youth need to take themselves seriously first before seeking for empowerment and inclusivity.
