Halifa Sallah Launches Constituency Development Initiative Fund for Alternative Solutions

The Independent
NEWS
July 5, 2002
Posted to the web July 8, 2002

By Seedy Bojang and Yaya Bajo
Banjul

Honourable Halifa Sallah the National Assembly member for the Serrekunda Central has
asserted that the Constituency Development Initiative Fund (CODIF) was initiated to offer
alternative solutions to social problems in the areas of health, education, community
development, legal, social welfare, children, sports and culture.

In launching the fund, Honourable Sallah who described the occasion as a decisive period in
the history of his constituency noted that the fund is the result of a commitment he has
undertaken during his election campaign that D5, 000 of his salary would be dedicated to the
development of Serrekunda Central. Since his election in January he said he has accumulated
D20, 000 from his own salary, which was being put at the disposal of his constituency.
Honourable Sallah who described life as a journey from the cradle to the grave noted that
every stage in life is a chapter, when everyday becomes a page, and one's career a book of
experience.

On leadership, he said people should be empowered to determine their destiny since as he
put it leadership is inconceivable without the people. Accordingly, he said the wealth of a
nation, which is derived from the people, should go back to serve their interest.

On human rights, he dismissed what he called misconception that human rights is making
children delinquents. He said human rights entails respect for the dignity and rights of other
people.

'The issue of human rights is respecting the dignity of others, and not violating their rights,' he
emphasised.

He said CODIF will strive to create new values for the people through motivation, incentive, and
developing abilities of outstanding individuals, who have demonstrated leadership qualities in
schools. 'We will give awards to students with exemplary characters that others will follow' he
said.

He said they will also encourage shows in schools, using modern television to promote
culture, and organise youth camps for training and developing human-beings.

'We will work with schoolteachers to have a school parliament to get the opinion and policies
of the children in decision-making process' he said. According to him CODIF will also promote
sports and culture, by creating funds to assist people with sporting abilities.

Hon. Sallah revealed that he had received a letter from the vice president requesting for funds
to develop the President Jammeh Foundation Hospital in Bundung. He said CODIF would
donate D2, 000 to the hospital, which he suggested should be renamed the Serrekunda
Central Community Health Centre.

Halifa explained that CODIF will encourage business by organising or holding roving markets
locally known as Lumos, and create tourist markets to build new avenues for development.
According to him, development does not mean transforming people into beggars, but effective
and wise utilization of economic resources.

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