Dear Editor,
Here is a bit of unsolicited advise for the faction of the opposition committed to opposing Barrow who don’t want to support a UDP-led coalition for whatever reason. Stop the so-called coalition negotiations right away. Convene one meeting, endorse the candidature of Talib Bensouda, roll up your collective sleeves and go into the trenches. Why? Because he is the only viable candidate among your lot. He is ambitious, has rushed to build infrastructure across the country, has paid staff deployed in communities, has the financial resources to compete nationwide. He is also perceived to have more committed supporters than the rest of you. In short, he is stronger than the rest of you. And he will not abort his ambition to contest in December for any political party in the opposition. And why would he leave the UDP where he had a solid, deliverable and loyal base when he couldn’t secure the nomination there and go through the difficult process of establishing his party only to subordinate his fervent desire to lead a ticket in December to someone smaller and weaker than he is perceived to be? He will not do that, he cannot do it even if he wanted to and neither should he. It is just not going to happen under any scenario.
Therefore, the sensible thing to do is to expedite his selection and dive right in to the campaign. Wasting time and resources on the pageantry of staging a primary on the pretence that this is some kind of competition is foolish. The election calendar is very tight and any viable candidate seeking to defeat an entrenched corrupt incumbent should not be huddled up in endless meetings with potential allies who won’t, can’t and shouldn’t run for the presidency in December and have the single option of supporting a like-minded viable candidate in their case that is only Talib. Issuing press releases, doing TV and radio rounds talking about process or throwing shades at other opposition parties doesn’t help anyone. Time is of the essence and the only agenda should be campaigning and canvassing for votes.
For our part in the UDP, our leadership has made a decision and they have explained the party’s position to the public. We are continuing our campaign in earnest and focusing on defeating Adama Barrow who is our singular opponent in the December elections. I want the candidate-led proponents within the opposition ranks to convene one final meeting to end all meetings, pick Talib, explain their decision to the public and get on with the campaign. Let voters have three clear choices early and make up their minds on who they trust to lead the country.
Karamba Touray
Nianija
Does the GBoS labour statistics reflect the reality Gambians experience every day?
Dear Editor,
The release of the 2026 Labour Force Survey by the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) has been welcomed by government supporters as evidence that the country’s economy is moving in the right direction. According to the report, unemployment has fallen to just 6.2%, while more than 733,000 Gambians are now employed.
If these figures accurately reflect reality, every Gambian should welcome the development. Employment is a cornerstone of dignity, economic growth, and national stability.
However, many citizens will understandably ask a simple question: Do these figures reflect the reality we observe in our daily lives?
Across communities, thousands of young graduates continue to search for work long after completing their education. Many households rely on occasional casual labour, petty trading, or support from relatives abroad. Every job advertisement attracts hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applicants. It is therefore reasonable to question how unemployment can be as low as 6.2%.
One possible explanation lies in how employment is defined and measured. International labour surveys often classify anyone who engaged in even a small amount of paid work during the reference period as employed. While this aligns with established statistical standards, it may not fully capture the situation of individuals who only access irregular work, earn very low incomes, or are actively seeking stable and meaningful employment. A person selling goods intermittently or working a few hours a week may be considered employed in statistical terms, yet still face significant economic hardship.
The report itself highlights important structural concerns. It indicates that 85.8% of workers are engaged in the informal sector, where earnings are typically low, job security is limited, and access to social protection is minimal. It also reports a median monthly income of only D3,000, suggesting that a large proportion of working Gambians continue to experience considerable financial strain.
These findings suggest that the key challenge is not merely whether individuals are classified as employed, but whether they have access to decent, secure, and adequately remunerated work.
For this reason, informed public discussion is essential. Citizens, economists, civil society organisations, and policymakers should critically examine the survey’s methodology, sampling approach, and definitions to ensure a clear understanding of what the figures represent. Scrutinising official statistics is not an indictment of GBoS; rather, it is an important component of democratic accountability. Public trust is strengthened when data can withstand transparent and rigorous analysis.
Ultimately, statistics should illuminate reality, not obscure it. When official figures appear to diverge significantly from lived experience, it is both reasonable and necessary to seek clarification. Gambians deserve data that not only adheres to international standards but also meaningfully reflects the economic conditions they face.
Whether one supports the government or the opposition, the shared objective remains the same: building an economy in which every Gambian who is willing to work can access decent employment, earn a sustainable income, and secure a better future.
Tombong Saidy
Unite Party
