Nyang,
Thanks for sharing this report. The observation I want to
make is regrading the statement below:
."The congress therefore resolves, as the fifth resolution, that
efforts must be made to introduce a party development fund which will
initiate party development projects for the benefit of its members as
well as the promotion and development of the party. It charges the
party leadership to work on the creation of the party development fund
and work with the party members on projects at the village, ward,
district, regional/municipal and national levels that will further the
interests of the party and its members."
I agree with the idea of a party development fund; and I also
agree with the idea of party members to work on projects at the
village, ward, district, regional/municipal and national levels, but I
am not certain what it means that it "will further the interest of the
party and its members."
Are these projects only to be limited to the party and its
membership? Once's a project assumes a village, ward,
regional/municipal or national dimension, it has transcended the bounds
of the party and its membership Say for instance, if the party
development fund is to be utilized to build a private school in one of
the villages, or in a ward, is this school going to benefit only the
party and its membership or the people in general? The same reasoning
goes for any other development endeavor that the party will undertake
with its development fund. I hope they will clarify this point.
The second observation is about the building of party branches
particularly in the diaspora. The idea of building party branches,
especially in European capitals where the presence of Gambians is quite
minimal is counter productive; in this day and age where people all
across the globe could be linked together; where they could have
conferences on the phone etc, the idea of a party branch should not be
restricted to a geographic location where you have a few Gambians, but
should encompass the broader view of linking all Gambians who share the
same aims and aspirations to a much bigger and more representative
entity.
I, therefore hope, that in their next congress PDOIS will review
it membership criteria, and make it possible for people not only to be
sympathizers, but full fledge members as well.
Rene
-----Original Message-----
From: Modou Nyang <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, Apr 26, 2010 1:26 pm
Subject: Foroyaa News: PDOIS HOLDS CONGRESS AT THE ATLANTIC HOTEL
PDOIS HOLDS CONGRESS AT THE ATLANTIC HOTEL
The People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism,
PDOIS, held its 2010 Congress at the Atlantic Hotel on Saturday 24
April 2010.
The Congress was attended by 100 delegates from all the Regions of the
country, a good number of whom were women. It was chaired by Amie
Sillah and addressed by Halifa Sallah, the Secretary General of PDOIS.
The Congress focused on two issues – the relation between PDOIS and
NADD and Agenda 2011. After a long and lively debate in which almost
all the delegates expressed their views, the Congress reached a
consensus that PDOIS may be accused of betrayal if it abandons NADD,
while Sidia Jatta is still a NADD National Assembly member. The
Congress decided for PDOIS not to rupture the Alliance which led to the
establishment of NADD and adopted Agenda 2011 as the way forward. The
Congress called on all PDOIS members to adopt agenda 2011.
The Congress passed seven resolutions. The first resolution addresses
the relation between PDOIS and NADD. It resolves that PDOIS should
continue to be a unifying factor and should be the last party to
abandon NADD to prove to the Gambian people that it is true to what it
has signed to the end.
Secondly, the Congress acknowledged that PDOIS is a party of its own.
It took cognisance of the fact that a unity that is more elaborate and
extensive than NADD is needed to effect change in 2011. The Congress
resolves that Agenda 2011 is the strategy and tactic that can lead to
change in the Gambia. PDOIS as a party therefore resolves that all
members of PDOIS should support Agenda 2011 and work on the ground to
facilitate its realisation. It calls on all political parties to hold
congresses and endorse agenda 2011.
The Third resolution took note of the fact that PDOIS must continue to
exist as a party that maintains its principles, policies, programme and
practices; but should ensure that those principles, policies, programme
and practices would not go against the National interest and would go
to promote the realisation of Agenda 2011 for the Common good.
The fourth resolution took cognizance of the fact that the party
belongs to the people and that no system of government is fit to exist
in The Gambia which is not based on the consent of people; that no law
is constitutional which contradicts the sovereignty of the Gambian
person and hinders the exercise of their freedom of association and
freedom of expression.
The Congress resolves that all party members should continue to promote
those freedoms of association and expression so that a genuine
multiparty system will exist in the country where no restriction or
hindrance will be imposed on any party from exercising its political
rights in the country.
The Congress took note of the fact that its sessions are a school for
democracy that it helps party members to come together to share
knowledge on how to manage the affairs of a country. The congress
therefore resolves, as the fifth resolution, that efforts must be made
to introduce a party development fund which will initiate party
development projects for the benefit of its members as well as the
promotion and development of the party. It charges the party leadership
to work on the creation of the party development fund and work with the
party members on projects at the village, ward, district,
regional/municipal and national levels that will further the interests
of the party and its members.
The sixth resolution recognised the presence of delegates from Italy,
Germany and Spain and resolves that those who attended the Congress
from abroad should represent the interest of the party in the countries
where they reside. The Congress has mandated those people to work
towards building party branches in those countries, operating in a
democratic manner in the selection of officers and convey any decision
they may make back to the party leadership.
The seventh resolution took cognizance of the fact that internal party
democracy is inconceivable without power being exercised by the party
members and that power must extend to the election of executive members
of the party. The Congress further took note of the fact that this is
the first congress that PDOIS held after the establishment of NADD. It
resolves that the delegates should go back to work for the branches of
the party to flourish in order to enable the membership to develop
relation and understanding with each other. It resolves to hold another
Congress at the latter part of this year or early next year to enable
the party to update its registration of members and facilitate the
democratic selection of delegates so as to elect party executive
members.
All the resolutions were moved and passed without objections.
This reporter gathered that at least one delegate came form each of the
48 Constituencies in the country out of a total of about a 100
delegates. There were also invitees who had come from other parties to
join the NADD and preferred to continue with NADD.
This reporter spoke to three of the delegates to get their impression
of the Congress:
Teneng Jallow, from Morri Kunda in Wuli East, said the holding of the
congress was a step in the right direction. She said the Congress had
enabled them to know about the position of their political party PDOIS
vis a vis NADD. According to her, the Presidential Election 2011 is
just round the corner and that as such there is need for the party not
to be involved in any controversy. She expressed her delight at the
opportunity given to every delegate to speak his/her mind. She
described the exchanges as mature, frank, honest and forward looking,
which she said is fundamental in a democratic society and the
democratization process. Teneng said she has faith in PDOIS as the
party that can free the farmers from poverty and salvage the country.
Another delegate from Sandu, Foday Ceesay said he was very happy with
the proceedings of the congress and the outcome. According to him, all
the pertinent issues regarding the party were tabled and exhaustively
discussed by the delegates and consensus reached. He said the country
needs change to eliminate the suffering of the people and that the
Gambian people should focus on themselves and take charge of their own
destiny. He said it was necessary and timely to have held the congress
and that now the task before them is to build and consolidate the party
from the grassroots.
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