RE: Cabinet reshuffle aimed at silencing critics
Dear editor,
So far so good. I think the move made by His Excellency Adama Barrow in reshuffling the Cabinet is a move in the right direction and the redeployment of the former Vice President to Foreign Service is a blessing. Vice President Darboe deserves the vice-presidency position to ensure good governance and the rule of law. He is seen to be utilising his foreign diplomacy skills to promote trade and other bilateral cooperations for the corporate interest of the nation.
The new National Development Plan ( NDP ) is finalised and the plans are well pronounced for the electorate by publishing the first eight major development agendas crucial to the rapid development of the nation. It is a comprehensive development blueprint which when judiciously utilised as guide, I bet The Gambia in the next ten years will be proud of a reputation of the status of an independent national economy.
Politics and religion may sometime go hand in hand but if the religious aspect is resolved to control political atmosphere totally then their might erupt some form of misunderstanding. What belongs to God must be given to Him and what belongs to Caesar must be given to him. An Islamic council is institutionalised and charged with the task of all religious matters, so they must not go beyond bound…..
By Omar Nyass
On the mysterious 33 million dalasi
Dear editor,
A whopping 33million dalasi is reported to have mysteriously landed in the account of the First Lady Foundation. The Foundation members are claiming that they don’t know how and why the mysterious fund found its way into the account.
Yet after claiming that the Foundation is investigating itself (yes, they’re investigating themselves) on how the hefty sum landed in the account, Ms. Fatou Ceesay, a board member of the Foundation, said: “people must understand that the Foundation is not a public entity and as such it is… not obliged or mandated to report to the public about its activities.”
And I am calling bullshit on her “not a public entity” claim. You tell me how a whole 33million dalasi would miraculously find itself in the First Lady’s account if she was just an ordinary citizen like me and you?
Nanama Keita
The need for a Government Accountability Office
Dear editor,
I am tired of raising alarms about a government I sincerely support; I have concluded I want to be and need to be part of the solution. So many of us have the education, the exposure and the boldness to move our beloved country from the wrenches of the Jammeh-era malfeasance, to a new dawn of institutional and official accountability. There is a great deal of goodwill throughout the world for our nascent democracy, but reports of creeping corruption, patronage and abuse of office is threatening not only that goodwill, but our national security.
So being part of the solution, is to be ready and willing to serve and bring to the table the ideas that I think will be helpful for a swift turnaround. Therefore, do not read my post as a lobby for a government post, instead, read it as a desire to serve my country at a time that my services, and those of many others are needed. Just for the records, I work full-time for the third largest university in the State of Michigan at a managerial level, and so working for the government of the Gambia will entail a lot of financial sacrifice. So have this in your mind as you read my proposal.
Today, I suggest the establishment of a “Government Accountability Office” (GAO), as exists here in the US or something similar to that. GAO is an independent, nonpartisan office of the US Congress, that works to ensure accountability of the federal government by advising government on budgets and other urgent matters. This can happen in two ways in The Gambia. First, our National Assembly can establish this position, fund it and make it an independent office within the National Assembly. The second way is for the National Assembly to create such an office within the Executive branch, but give it the autonomy and constitutional protection of an independent entity that the President or his representatives cannot fire by mere whims.
A citizen with extensive knowledge in development, public policy and national security. integrity, candor and willingness to stand up for our country against corruption and public waste should lead such an office. Can someone tell the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader Kebba K. Barrow, that this is an urgent proposal? By the way, I will be happy to support its establishment of this and any similar office to increase and strengthen government accountability.
So, if you know and are close to President Barrow, or anyone who can push this proposal, share with them. Good citizens don’t let great ideas die, they work to bring them to fruition. Madi Jobarteh Njundu Drammeh Banjul Entreprenuer Mboge S-khan Yahya N Darboe? you are my big brothers and I am sure you can push this idea somewhat. We all need to arrest the recent failures before they become a culture.
Seyfo Alieu Saja Darboe?
