Re: Vice President Calls For A Rousing Welcome For President Barrow And Delegation

Reference is invited from the press release issued from the office of the Vice President dated 24^th May, 2018. Calling on all Gambian’s and well-wishers to come out in good numbers to welcome back his Excellency, President Adama Barrow, at the Banjul International Airport and along the streets.

This as a result of the President being successfully mobilized pledges totalling to 1.45 Billion Euros from divers Donor Countries and International Partners.  The question is why citizens should thank their leaders on issues that they supposed to do and execute as servants of the citizens.

Meanwhile the Gambia is in a state of coma which need urgent diagnoses. It is sad to read on papers that the Barrow led administration received aids from Donors but yet still The Gambia is poor like a rat in the Church. Surprisingly enough In The Gambia, education is valued very highly and theoretically given a high priority. Strangely enough, however, the teachers responsible for educating Gambia’s children are not valued that highly as expected compared to other jobs. Considering the rapid increase of goods and services, you would think that teachers would be among the highest paid professionals. Yet teachers are compensated unreasonably to their advanced education levels and are disrespected by many people.

It is one year now the Barrow led administration is yet to demonstrate any leadership or clear direction.  This is believed to be an oversight by the presiding President and his advisers, due to lack of familiarity and understanding of the existing 1997 constitution.  To my knowledge the ministerial position for Defence also remains unfilled and has therefore been attached to the office of the President?  Is it to be assumed therefore that Barrow occupies the roles of President; Commander in Chief and Defence minister at the same time? To date there is lack of clarity over this situation.

Both the University of The Gambia and the College does not have learning materials, most of those books in the main libraries are outdated decades ago. However, if we want to have better educational system where students learn to develop themselves and strive hard to learn the values of life, we must focus our energy and resources on where it all begins.

Meanwhile the citizens are not safe anymore as the rapid increasing rate of theft, robbery and rape. The rate at which crime is increasing is quite alarming. Theft, murder and rape seem to have become the order of the day. It is quite baffling that in spite of the security measures taken up by the government. There appears to be no respite. What is more shocking is the fact that these crimes are being committed in broad daylights, particularly robbery.

 Furthermore the Ministry of Youth & Sports (MOYS) which is responsible for meeting policy issues as well as co-operating with donor agencies for the youth development programs. Yet still our sports is facing major challenges beyond imagination. Of recent I felt disappointed, flag basted, bowl over beyond all human imagination upon reading the news that our own Gambia female national team were left stranded at a foreign airport sleeping.

The Gambia has a big youthful population, majority of whom are poor, uneducated and are unemployed. Most of these youth have resorted to drug abuse causing high prevalence rate of mental illnesses. The female youth resort to prostitution as a quick way of earning money for a leaving. To realize the dividend, the Barrow led administration must invest in the empowerment, education and employment of her young people. There are thousands of young people in The Gambia today, representing a staggering amount of human potential. Yet too many of them are trapped in poverty, with few opportunities to learn or to earn a decent standard living.

A Luta Continua!

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist