I was wowed when I learnt that; President Barrow and delegation
has set out on a countrywide meet the people tour. Even though the nationwide tour
is sanctioned by Section 222(15) of the constitution of the Republic of The
Gambia, It is unjustifiable and uncalled for to embark on such an expensive
trip, considering the recent state of economy as well as the mounting
challenges facing our beloved country.
Furthermore, the heavens have opened long ago, giving farmers the
green light to start work. As a result, the tour should have hold before the
raining season, so he can be furnished with challenges facing the poor Farmers
and address them by now.
In The Gambia, however, the challenges go beyond low rainfall,
pests and disease. Farmers at all scales of the production value chain, need
access to the inputs required to produce a successful crop high yielding seeds
using effective fertilizers and sufficient water through irrigation system.
The last time I checked the provision of a safe water supply and
good sanitation are major contributory factors to positive healthcare.
Unfortunately, The Barrow administration is unable to provide clean water for
all rural and urban areas. We cannot achieve a free zone disease country until
and unless we take in charge of our health care system and pump in the required
resources to meet international standards.
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| Tomas Sankara |
Taking a cue from the great Pan Africanist- Tomas Sankara, one
could realize that; Living way ahead of his time, within 12 months of his
leadership, Sankara vigorously pursued a reforestation program that saw over 10
million trees planted around the country in order to push back the encroachment
of the Sahara Desert. In less than 4 years, Burkina Faso became self-sufficient
in foods production through the redistribution of lands from the hands of
corrupt Chiefs and landowners to local farmers, and through massive irrigation
and fertilizer distribution programs. Sankara rejected the idea of foreign aid,
stating that “he who feeds you, controls you.”
Lest you forget Mr. President, citizens do no longer safe, the
rate at which crime is increasing under your watch is disturbing. In the face
of this, Sir, many have been wondering whether or not, your government has the
capabilities to come down hard on organised crime and its perpetrators?
The Gambia has a big youthful population, majority of whom are
poor, uneducated and are jobless. Most of these youth have resorted to drug
abuse and peddling. This did not only triggered several mental illnesses among
the teeming masses of young people, it only poses as a monumental problem which
threatens the cream of our society. Sir no sooner did you solve, the better it
is for all and sundry.
Going further, the female youth too, resort to prostitution as a
quick way of earning money for a leaving. To realize the dividend of leadership
in the 21st Century, 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 an overwhelming amount of human potential. Yet, too many of them are
confined in poverty, with few opportunities to learn or to earn a decent
standard of living.
This is just few of the
many problems that may come to mine, nonetheless, there are many others that
continue debilitating our progress.
This is why I believe, the
resources used on the tour, could have been useful in solving this and many
teething issues affecting our national development.
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Blogger/Political Activist
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