From The Observer


Thursday, November 15, 2001


MDI director general and staff congratulate Jammeh Rumours of her dismissal
not true

As rumours of the sacking of Juka Jabang, director general of the Management
Development Institute (MDI) take the rounds, the president-elect Yahya
Jammeh, has cleared the fog surrounding the alleged dismissal when he
received the staff and management of the MDI who paid a courtesy call on him
at the State House.

Speaking yesterday at the occasion, President Jammeh said, "I am aware that
people call you and say you are next, that is not true, in fact there is a
rumour in town and that you are next which is not true. The bottom line is
that we are not looking at people based on what political ideology they
explore.

We are only interested in delivery. At the end of the day, we don't care as
long as you are delivering irrespective of your political ideology," he
said. President Jammeh said it would be unwise for him to expect everybody
in the civil service and in all the institutions to be loyal to the APRC
Government.

The president emphasised that everybody’s responsibility was to serve the
Gambian people "but what is unacceptable is to delay and sabotage government
policies and efforts because you do not support my party. Your political
affiliation does not matter to me as long as you deliver as expected. I
would not sack anybody because of political affiliation.

All am interested in is to work for the development of our country, our
vision 2020 ambitions," the president remarked. President Jammeh further
congratulated the people of MDI for accepting the people’s verdict and
promised to further strengthen and improve the quality of education. "I know
that no nation can develop without an educated populace.

We are beset by a lot of problems in Africa, that make others outside Africa
look down upon us and laugh, all because of ignorance and the only way we
can get rid of this is through education. That is why since 1994, education
had been given the topmost priority because all conflicts results from
ignorance which is Africa's most divastating problem. During our campaign,
there were a lot of tension due to ignorance".

President Jammeh said the majority of Gambian women and youths were able to
follow the right path because they at least had some formal education. He
said as a result of education,they know that issues of tribalism and other
stereotypical concepts can only breed conflict and "the best way forward is
to choose anybody that can deliver" . President Jammeh thanked Gambian women
for their active roles in bringing up their families.

He finally promised to help in the expansion of the MDI. On staff training,
he said his government would train at least three staff each year, two on
Masters degree and one Phd degree programmes beginning 2002. President
Jammeh also donated a computer set to MDI. Also speaking the vice president
and secretary of state for women's affairs, Isatou Njie-Saidy, congratulated
the management and staff of MDI, describing their courtesy call as timely.

"This is what is exactly expected of the Gambian people, to come forward
after the verdict had been declared and join hands and work together to
develop our country," she said. For her part, the secretary of state for
education, Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, said the call was timely and gratifying.
"It is time for Gambians to come out especially women and youths to work
towards development".

SoS Jatta called for change of attitude, behaviour and a commitment to
achieve "our vision 2020 objectives". Speaking on behalf of the staff and
management of MDI, the director general, Juka Jabang, congratulated
President Jammeh on his landslide victory at the recent presidential polls
which she said was accepted by both Gambians and the International
Community.

"Now that the noble people of The Gambia in a most democratic and mature
manner have diligently demonstrated their confidence and hope for a better
future in your youthful and dynamic leadership, we also come to share this
joy with you," she noted.

Mrs Jabang said the MDI as an institution of higher learning devoted to
training, research and consultancy as well as other activities that assist
the growth and development of her country's human and institutional
resources, has watched with an acute sense of pleasure and pride, the great
strides registered "by your government to achieve sustainable human
development for our people.

The university of the Gambia, the establishment of numerous schools,
throughout the country, good model infrastructure and indeed an
unprecedented investment in facilitating access to health care, education
and skills training especially for the needy".

Other speakers included Matilda Johnson, Amie Jallow, Chris Greywood and
Fatou Jobe, a student, all of whom congratulated Jammeh for his laudable
efforts in developing the country. Present were the secretary general,
Office of the President, Julia Joiner and other senior staff members of MDI.






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