>
> Thanks everyone for the pain taking to reply and make the MOU available.
> My concern was particularly centered on the issue of who leads NADD in the
> coming elections, or more fittingly, what are the criteria set for the flag
> bearer.
> I find it disappointing that it is not specified as to who the flagbearer
> could be. I am of the believe that if the MOU has clearly indicated that the
> flag bearer "should in no case be any of the executive members of the
> signatory parties" this would have saved us all the confusion going on.
> Honestly if no specific criteria was set then Ousainou Darboe, OJ, Halifa,
> Sidia, Waa and Hamat are all eligible as a candidate. There will be nothing
> wrong in identifying Darboe irrespective of his past records nor should OJ
> be disqualified for his past association with the PPP. What i am trying to
> say is that it is all wrong from the start. The flagbearer should NOT be any
> of the already know leaders of any opposition political party. Once any of
> them is identified, the whole wall crumbles down. Any NRP, PDOIS, UDP, PPP
> or NDAM supporter who in the past chosed his party because of his/her
> dissatisfaction of the presidential candidate of the other parties, will
> definitely be disappointed if the candidate he/she has always been opposed
> to is nominated as flagbearer.
> This is a very senitive issue. Already among the intelligence circle, the
> mere supposition of the nomination of X or Y is causing such fray, what will
> happen among the gambian voters and supporters of NADD the majority of whom
> still need further enlightenment in politics. Believe me, this is far
> different from just voting in a councillor or an MP. This is voting in a
> President. If ever there is dissent within NADD (which unfortunately is
> already there and slowing growing to an explosive state), then it is as well
> better to give Yaya the presidency on a gold platter.
> We should also try to be cautious of Yahya. He is quite but waiting for
> the moment to give a bigger blow to NADD. If Darbo, Hamat, Waa or OJ are
> selected, he will tighten his "almighty power" over them and find ways to
> send them to prison.
> All i am saying is, a candidate devoid of all history of Direct political
> involvement who is seen to represent all the parties involve in NADD would
> serve as a better candidate. Why not a lady? Not only will it make a huge
> change, it will amass more support because of its unique nature.
>
> NADD's failure will be evident if the flagbearer should come from the
> ranks of its Executive. No bad prediction, but simple fact.
>
>
>  On 24/01/06, abdoukarim sanneh <[log in to unmask] > wrote:
> >
> >    Thu, 20 Jan 2005 07:11:20 +0000 Reply-To:   The Gambia and
> > related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> Sender:   The Gambia
> > and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> Comments:   DomainKeys?
> > See http://antispam.yahoo.com/domainkeys  From:   ! Amadu Kabir Njie
> > <[log in to unmask]> Subject:   Fw: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues -
> > Issue No. 6/2005, 20-23 January, 2005 Comments:   To: Gambia Talk
> > <[log in to unmask]> Content-Type:   text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Issue
> > No. 6/2005, 20-23 January, 2005 Editorial The Beginning of a New
> > Beginning It is indeed the beginning of a new beginning. The first step
> > has been taken in a completely new direction, on the road to liberty and
> > prosperity. People wan! t change, they want liberty, and they want
> > empowerment. They have demanded for a coalition not to merely replace the
> > current ruling party but to effect genuine changes. The Opposition Parties
> > have taken a historic step by responding to the demand of the time. They
> > have taken the bull by the horn by appending their signatures top the
> > historic Memorandum of Understanding which has established the National
> > Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD). The new born baby has
> > said no to self perpetuating rule, no to tyranny, no to censorship. It has
> > vowed to put an end to these evils that at wrecking our society. It has
> > committed itself to pursue the empowerment of the people. NADD has a
> > future because the people have taken ownership of it. The old order is a
> > thorn in the flesh of the people, it must crumble. All the signs are that if
> > will crumble. A new order where leaders are not monarchs but servants to the
> > people must emerge to replace the old order. In fact a new! dynamic movement
> > is arising and developing to brush aside the old order and establish a new
> > order, just as the chick has to emerge from its eggshell when the time is
> > ripe. There is no doubt that the Gambia has a bright future. Opposition
> > Parties have taken a bold step. They have spoken with one voice. But this
> > bold step is just the beginning of a long and tortuous journey. What is
> > required of the leadership is steadfastness, consistency, resolution and
> > sincerity. Through struggle all obstacles can be surmounted to achieve
> > victory. Do not despair because behind every dark cloud there is silver
> > lining. OPPOSITION PARTIES UNITE By Surakata Danso and Sarjo Camara Representatives
> > of five opposition political parties appended their signatures on an
> > agreement known as the Memorandum of Understanding at Palm Grove Hotel on
> > Monday 17th January 2005 in the presence of supporters and independent
> > observers. The Memorandum of Understanding is supposed to bind ! the five
> > political parties in their pronouncements and actions during the period of
> > their union. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes an
> > alliance known as the National Alliance for Democracy and Development
> > (NADD). NADD is not only interested in replacing the ruling party but to
> > effect far reaching changes in governance. Hence, according to the MOU the
> > goal of the alliance is to put an end to self-perpetuating rule and unsure
> > the empowerment of the people. Furthermore, a presidential candidate shall
> > be selected in due course but in the spirit of averting self-perpetuating
> > rule the elected president is not permitted by the MOU to serve for more
> > than one term or to even give support to a presidential candidate. The
> > members of the executive who comprise two members of each political party
> > emphasized in their statements that NADD has come into being in order to
> > carry out rectification. The signing ceremony was opened by the chairman
> > of the provisional coalitio! n Mr. Assan Musa Camara. He was later elected
> > as the chairman of NADD at the end of the signing ceremony. His opening
> > statement is published in this issue. After the opening statement the entire
> > text of the MOU was read by the Coordinator of the provisional coalition
> > Halifa Sallah. He was later elected Coordinator of NADD. After this two
> > representatives of each political party was invited one after the other to
> > sign the MOU. The party leaders were then called upon to sign a declaration
> > committing themselves to the letter and spirit of the MOU. The ceremony
> > ended with a press conference by the coordinator. NADD COORDINATOR HOLDS
> > PRESS BRIEFING Halifa Sallah, who as on Monday elected Coordinator of
> > the Opposition Coalition, has indicated that the National Alliance for
> > Democracy and Development (NADD), which will be registered as a political
> > entity, will have its own colour, emblem and motto. Sallah said the
> > Presidential Candidate for the Alliance in the forthco! ming presidential
> > election will be selected by the Executive Committee of the Alliance by
> > consensus, and if that fails, they will resort to primaries. "The term
> > of the first President Elect of the Alliance will be only one five year
> > term, and that person is a candidate of the Alliance, and will not support a
> > political party and will not stand for a second term," he remarked. Sallah
> > said the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the leaders of the various
> > political parties will be translated into local languages and Arabic and
> > published for every Gambian to have access to it. "There will be a mass
> > distribution of this memorandum. We will be translating it in the local
> > languages and put it in cassettes, and disseminate the cassettes. We want
> > the people to understand what the Alliance is all about, to see that it is
> > above political parties. It is a supreme organ to which all member parties
> > agreed to surrender part of their sovereignty. We want that to be unders!
> > tood. At the launching, its motto, its emblem, its symbol and colour will
> > also be disseminated," he remarked. He said the Technical Committee will
> > work out a Code of Conduct and each party is supposed to take that Code of
> > Conduct to sensitize its members, so that if they stand on a political
> > platform that will guide them. "In that sense, we hope we will introduce
> > a new brand of politics in The Gambia, one that is based on maturity, one
> > that is based on the popular interest. Lastly, the state media is supposed
> > to disseminate divergent views according to section 207 of the constitution.
> > That is the requirement. We are going to insist on that. We want to be seen
> > as an alternative government," he posited. He said they will appeal to
> > the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to reconvene the multi-party
> > committee so that all political parties will meet periodically to look at
> > the democratic process. "Democracy is more than voting. The whole
> > process of public sensitization, the whole process of how you translate your
> > programme to the people matters and the Elections Decree which the IEC is
> > supposed to administer states categorically that the objective of a
> > political party is to disseminate its programmes and policies to the wider
> > public. This means the state media should be open and we are going to work
> > very hard to make sure that is respected," he remarked. STATEMENTS BY
> > POLITICAL LEADERS  STATEMENT BY LAMIN WAA JUWARA OF NDAM What we have
> > formulated here today is a commitment to make sure that we free our country.
> > Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam once said that the freedom of the Vietnamese people
> > is as precious as the life of each and every Vietnamese. We are undertaking
> > to free the Gambian people. This is a task that no individual can accomplish
> > alone. It is a task for the entire Gambian people, including those on the
> > other side of the political divide. We want them to come and join us. What
> > is at sta! ke here is not an electoral alliance. It is more than electoral
> > alliance. What we want to achieve is to make sure we prevent what has
> > happened in our sister republics from happening to The Gambia. And the only
> > way to do that is to be united, to stand and be counted and wake up from our
> > slumber. That is the message to be given to every Gambian in every hamlet
> > and we will not spare any effort not to do that. Our lives have been
> > reduced to arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture and imprisonment. The time
> > has come for the Gambian people to show the rest of the world that Gambia
> > has been sliding gradually to conflict. We are people of peace and we will
> > make sure that we stem that process and restore sanity in our home. What I
> > have seen today and in the past months have done a lot to give us courage,
> > because people of conscience have started to speak. You must remember, there
> > is no easy road to peace. What we are doing today is not just electioneering
> > but to rectify everything tha! t has gone wrong so that we will gain our
> > respectability among nations despite our small size. HON. HAMAT N.K.
> > BAH, SECRETARY GENERAL, NRP We in the National Reconciliation Party have
> > accepted the idea of an alliance of opposition parties in our beloved
> > country because it has become a successful method of removing incumbents
> > from power. Besides, this unity has become a necessity in the interest of
> > strengthening our democracy. Our party is convinced that if the alliance
> > succeeds it is capable of creating a secure society where people can
> > participate either directly or indirectly in every aspect of national
> > development without fear of intimidation or harassment. Mr. Chairman,
> > colleagues in the prospective alliance, invited guest, ladies and gentlemen,
> > Gambians are more than ever before longing for a Gambia devoid of tribalism,
> > provocation, character assassination and impunity. We are fighting for a
> > Gambia that would be endowed with a leadership that would be se! nsitive to
> > the plight of their people, a leadership that would manifest total respect
> > for human and peoples� rights, good governance, the right to freedom of
> > _expression and of the press and divergent views as enshrined in our
> > constitution. And more so respect for the legislature and the judiciary. A
> > leadership that would preserve and depoliticise our traditional institutions
> > so as to strengthen national unity. Production center for the sub region for
> > employment generation. SIDIA JATTA, CHAIRPERSON PDOIS This signing
> > ceremony is not a drama. We are not actors and actresses. You are not
> > spectators. This is history in the making and we are all part of the
> > process. This is why we became a Republic in 1970. We moved from a
> > country where sovereignty resided in the British crown to a country where
> > sovereignty resides in the people and the country. They should say how this
> > country is to be governed. Any government must derive its legitimacy from
> > the people and it can ! only maintain its legitimacy by enhancing their
> > liberty and prosperity. This is why we in PDOIS are inspired by the goal of
> > the Alliance. "The goal of the Alliance is to put an end to
> > self-perpetuating rule, ensure the empowerment of the people so that they
> > can participate in sustainable development." Empowerment is what the
> > sovereign citizens of the Gambia lack. This is why they are yet to fully
> > become the owners of the country. An owner must have the power to decide
> > what is to be done with his or her property. The Gambian people are yet to
> > display such sense of ownership of the Gambia. An owner must be able to
> > hold those he/she entrusts with the management of his/her property
> > accountable. The people in the Gambia are yet to assume such a
> > responsibility. The fact each of us should realize is that the Gambian
> > people have the power to check any abuse of authority by their leaders. This
> > is why they have the power to cast their vote every five years. They can
> > change representatives who happen to misrepresent them every five years.
> > This is why they should see their vote as means of expressing their power
> > and have their say on how their country is run and who will run it on their
> > behalf, it does require insults, slander, antagonism, sectionalism,
> > tribalism, religion and intolerance. This is the moment of truth and the
> > moment of decision. The Alliance should give the facts to the people and the
> > truth shall enable them to know how to exercise their sovereign powers to
> > determine who is to be given their affairs. We in PDOIS have long
> > advocated for the slogan that representatives are mere public trustees or
> > servants of the people. This is corroborated by section 112 of the
> > constitution, which states: "The responsibilities of the members of the
> > National Assembly shall include the following - (a) all members shall
> > maintain the dignity of the National Assembly both during the sittings of
> > the National Assembly and in their a! cts and activities outside the
> > National Assembly; (b) all members shall regard themselves as servants
> > of the people of The Gambia, desist from any conduct by which they seek
> > improperly to enrich themselves from the people, and shall discharge their
> > duties and functions in the interest of the nation as a whole and in doing
> > so shall be influenced by the dictates of conscience and the national
> > interest." This is the type of leadership that the country needs in. the
> > 21st century. We in the PDOIS are inspired that we have not come
> > together to form an alliance just to share positions and benefits. We have
> > mutually pledged that the protection of the people and National -Interest
> > shall be our supreme goal. We have made our goals public so that our
> > practice shall be judged by our precepts. We vow that we will never be found
> > wanting in backing percepts with practice. This is the challenge posed by
> > our generation. We want to assure all of you that we will equal the challe!
> > nge. MR. OUSAINOU DARBOE, SECRETARY GENERAL AND PARTY LEADER OF THE UDP It
> > is with a great sense of pride and achievement that I participate in this
> > historic and groundbreaking event. It is an event that is the climax of
> > months of frank and sincere discussions among the five signatory Parties.
> > This has been possible because of our patriotism and the love we have for
> > our dear country. This event demonstrates that the opposition parties in the
> > Gambia can subordinate party interests to supreme national interest and this
> > is what makes it extremely significant. A few years ago, indeed a few
> > months ago, nobody would have thought that this was possible. As a matter of
> > fact, when the inter party talks began skeptics prophesied that they will
> > lead to nowhere. They had under estimated the yearning of the majority of
> > the Gambian people for a better Gambia, a Gambia in which peace will reign
> > in the streets and in all corners, a Gambia where the rule of law will be
> > supreme! , and where there will be justice and fair play for all citizens, a
> > Gambia where there will be tolerance and understanding at all strata of
> > society, a Gambia where security for every one is assured. This is the new
> > Gambia� that we aspire to create for ourselves and for generations yet
> > unborn. Mr. Chairman, as we append our names and signatures to this
> > Memorandum of Understanding, we open a new page in this country�s history.
> > We are confident in the rightness of our cause and the justice of our
> > mission. We believe that this is the right path to rescuing our country from
> > the decadence and ruin in which it has been plunged. The present
> > Administration has failed this country and the entire country is crying out
> > for change and this Alliance we have just established will serve the Gambian
> > nation as the vehicle for the change it so much needs and deserves. Mr.
> > Chairman, today we rededicate and once again commit ourselves to bringing
> > change through the ballot box, change wi! th the consent of the people, the
> > will of the people and the hearts of people. Let the whole world bear
> > witness that we, representing the majority of the Gambian population, have
> > solemnly decided to come together and work together for the common good of
> > all Gambians and we invite all Gambians who have concern for the welfare and
> > future of this country to join us in this crusade to salvage our country and
> > re establish the lost dignity and respect for all Gambians both within the
> > country and abroad. This is a sacred duty for all Gambians This event is
> > as significant as it is historic. Never in the annals of post colonial
> > history has any country in Africa or anywhere else, experienced a situation
> > when all parties outside the government came together to form an alliance.
> > We know therefore, that we will succeed because the masses are with us and
> > behind us. Omar A. Jallow (O.J.) Secretary General of the Peoples
> > Progressive Party Today is a good day, because i! t has taken almost two
> > years for us to get to where we have gotten to today. After painstaking and
> > genuine negotiations on the way forward, after months, and weeks and days
> > and nights of placing together a plan of action for the people of this
> > country, who have called on us to come together as one party, I can today
> > say that we have answered that call. Today Ladies and gentlemen we (NDAM,
> > NRP, PDIOS, PPP and UDP) have put our differences aside, focused on our
> > common objective, which is the common wish of most Gambians and joined
> > forces to form a National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD). It
> > is this because the youth, women, and men of this country yearn for an
> > opportunity to choose a better alternative party in a little less than
> > twenty months from now. The past and the present situations in Gambia have
> > taught us that things cannot continue as they are. The Gambia cannot afford
> > to continue to be governed the way it has been. As long as our schools
> > remain over ! crowded, our teachers and nurses under paid, our youth
> > unemployed, our civil service politicized and inefficient, our media
> > threatened, freedom to state what is right censored, our nation divided, our
> > economy collapsing, and poverty rising, the future will remain bleak. And
> > that is why we all must move in a different direction; a new direction that
> > seeks to improve the lot of the majority. A future that guarantees
> > opportunity to all, for all, and by all to speak freely, live freely, and be
> > able to provide for one�s family daily. Today is a good day, ladies and
> > gentlemen, because we have seen the light peep over the dark clouds that
> > have covered this nation for over a decade now. We have heard the
> > rolling thunder pass over the land and yet we fear not its threats but are
> > emboldened and encouraged by this new dawn. From this day on we know we are
> > living in a time of rejuvenated hope, a time of work together for the common
> > good. A time of sincerity to our selves, t! o each other and most
> > importantly to those who have asked for this Alliance, the Gambian People. The
> > Gambians abroad have also played a key role in strengthening the need for a
> > viable, vibrant and emboldened alternative in Gambian politics. Our thanks
> > go to all of them who have supported, challenged and facilitated in many
> > ways the journey that has led to this new arrival today NADD, since the
> > first forum two years ago in Atlanta. Ladies and gentlemen, in the
> > coming months NADD will need every single person that wants this country to
> > move forward; toward a direction of justice, freedom, economic opportunity,
> > liberty, and security for all, irrespective of gender, creed, economic
> > status or ethnic origin. We will need the intellectuals, the professionals,
> > the artists, the laborers, the market women, the farmers, the youth groups,
> > the unions, the associations, village communities and everyone, to come
> > together and join NADD in this journey toward 2006. We will unv! eil the
> > manifesto, choose our candidate and ask for volunteers to help with
> > fundraising, campaigning and voter mobilization as well as civic education.
> > There is much work to be done. But we started years ago, even though this is
> > just the beginning, a new day has come- for you, for me, for all of us, for
> > our children, for The Gambia our homeland, because today is a good day! MEMORANDUM
> > OF UNDERSTANDIN G ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE OF OPPOSITION PARTIES IN THE
> > GAMBIA PREAMBLE We, the undersigned representatives of opposition
> > political parties, who seek to establish an alliance, are fully conscious of
> > the duty, that wisdom and honour bestow on us, to explain to the people,
> > from whose consent we must derive the authority to preside over the affairs
> > of the nation and to generations yet unborn, the exceptional circumstances
> > which compelled us to assemble and take these decisions that are here
> > engraved or entrenched in this Memorandum Of Understanding. Two years f!
> > ollowing the coup d�etat of July 22nd 1994, The Gambia was supposed to have
> > gone through a transition from an unconstitutional and undemocratic system
> > of government imposed by the AFPRC regime, based on the might of the gun, to
> > a constitutional and democratic system of government, based on the consent
> > of the people under a Second Republic. Gambians were made to believe
> > that the Second Republic would usher in an era of transparency,
> > accountability and probity. A period of rectification was promised that
> > would put an end to the alleged abuse of office, corruption and other
> > related vices of public office, which negated the welfare of the people. To
> > achieve these fundamental aims, state administration under the Second
> > Republic should have been characterized by the initiation of constitutional,
> > institutional and administrative reforms and the setting into motion of
> > policies, programmes and democratic practices that would oblige the members
> > of the executive, the legislature,! the judiciary and all the other
> > custodians or trustees of public authority to perform their duties in
> > accordance with the dictates of law and the general welfare of the people. However,
> > it has become evident that after eight years of APRC rule under the Second
> > Republic, the government has not lived up to its promises and has not shown
> > any commitment to enlarge the freedom of the people or ensure their
> > empowerment. On the contrary, it has systematically amended the constitution
> > and enacted laws that concentrate power in the hands of the executive,
> > stifle the authority of the people and legitimise impunity in both matters
> > of governance and economic management. Constitutional amendments such as
> > the deletion of the elective principle in constituting district and village
> > leadership and the usurpation of such powers by the President and the
> > Secretary of State for Local Government, respectively; the negation of the
> > autonomy of local government bodies through the introduc! tion of intrusive
> > laws that enable the Secretary of State for Local Government to exert undue
> > control over the affairs of local councils in contravention of the
> > principles of decentraliation and devolution of power to local authorities
> > and communities; the assault on the independence and integrity of the
> > Independent Electoral Commission by the removal and replacement of its
> > Chairperson by the President; the frequent shifting and firing of public
> > servants without any legal process; the general militarization of government
> > affairs through the declaration of one operational code after another
> > provide us with ample evidence of the trend towards the centralization of
> > absolute power in the hands of the executive. The abuse of such absolute
> > power is further evidenced by frequent threats to deprive communities of
> > public services because of political affiliation, the arbitrary arrest and
> > detention of persons beyond the constitutional provision of 72 hours set for
> > detention without tr! ial and the unparalleled affront to the independence
> > and impartiality of the judiciary as the president makes repeated claims
> > that he is responsible for the imprisonment of persons convicted by courts. It
> > goes without saying that maladministration in matters of governance is
> > further compounded by the mismanagement of the economy which has led to the
> > contraction of the productive base, the dwindling of the required investment
> > capacity to generate employment and enhance the income earning capacity of
> > the people, escalation of internal and external borrowing, chronic
> > indebtedness, depreciation of the Dalasi, skyrocketing prices and a
> > perpetual increase in poverty. Despite all the evidence that the regime
> > is neither capable nor willing to protect and enlarge the rights and
> > freedoms of the citizenry and free them from economic mismanagement and
> > poverty, it has been making systematic effort to perpetuate itself in office
> > beyond the year 2020. This is corroborated by ! the failed attempt to
> > abrogate the permanent structures of the IEC because of the stringent
> > requirements imposed by the constitution in case of amendment of entrenched
> > clauses; the repealing of the provision for the second round of voting,
> > should no Presidential candidate receive more than fifty percent of the
> > total number of votes validly cast at an election on the first ballot; the
> > complete monopoly of the state media and the attempt to establish a media
> > commission that could close down media houses on the basis of administrative
> > discretion, which was aborted only because of outcry, both national and
> > international; the refusal to allow Citizen FM to operate because of
> > administrative recalcitrance; the imposition of a bond of half a million
> > dalasi on media houses before being allowed to operate and its retroactive
> > application to close down existing media houses who may not be able to
> > comply; the establishment of draconian laws which impose prison sentences of
> > not less than six! months with neither an upper limit nor the option of fine
> > for offences such as uttering seditious words, publishing false news,
> > publishing cartoons which are considered to be derogatory; the partisan
> > approach to public administration, the personalization of the public service
> > delivery system and the stifling of the National Council for Civic Education
> > which should have had access to the national television and other public
> > media to provide civic awareness to the people on their constitutional,
> > political and civic rights. These omissions and transgressions reveal
> > with overwhelming thoroughness that the regime has capitulated to the
> > temptation of perpetuating itself in office, despite all its shortcomings. In
> > this light, we the undersigned representing our political parties, are
> > obliged to strive for the establishment of an alternative government in
> > order to put an end to self-perpetuating rule, establish proper democratic
> > and constitutional safeguards, implement sound! and sustainable economic
> > policies and ensure that patronage, intimidation and inducement shall not
> > stifle the undiluted consent of the people. Appreciating that no single
> > opposition party can put an end to self-perpetuating rule given the culture
> > of patronage, intimidation and inducement that has already taken root in the
> > political life of the country; Taking note of the fact that any given
> > party may easily lapse into the vicious cycle of self-perpetuating rule if
> > the proper institutional and administrative safeguards are not put in place
> > to ensure democratic processes and practices; Recognizing that
> > empowering the Gambian people, to build a durable and sustainable democracy,
> > is the only way to put an end to the self-perpetuating rule of the APRC
> > regime and bar the possibility of the emergence of any government that would
> > perpetuate itself in office in the future; Conscious of the fact that a
> > sustainable democratic system can best thrive within a mul! ti-party
> > political environment that would enable many parties to have the competence
> > to be credible alternatives to any party in office; Being fully
> > committed to the values of fundamental rights and freedoms, the rule of law,
> > the dignity of the human person, good governance and democratic culture; Being
> > fully conscious of the imperative and urgent need to consolidate the
> > aspirations of the Gambian people for greater national unity transcending
> > tribe, religion, gender, place of origin, birth, disability or other status;
> > Firmly convinced that an alliance transcending ideological and other
> > differences in principle, policies and programmes could augur well for the
> > country by ensuring the adherence to a common code of conduct and thus
> > consolidate a culture of respect for fundamental rights and freedoms,
> > democratic participation, tolerance of diversity that can serve as a
> > launching pad for genuine multi-party electoral contest based on diverse
> > principles, policies pro! grammes and practices; Acknowledging the fact
> > that commitment to the values of fundamental rights and freedoms, the rule
> > of law, the dignity of the human person, democracy and good governance
> > characterized by transparency, accountability and popular participation
> > shall best prepare The Gambia for African integration and raise the prestige
> > and reputation of the country at the international level; Drawing our
> > inspiration from our own acknowledgement of these ideals, we the
> > representatives of the political parties here assembled agree as follows:  PART
> > I Name, Goals and Strategic Objective and Mechanism of the Alliance 1.
> > Establishment of the Alliance An alliance is hereby established. The
> > name of the alliance is National Alliance for Democracy and Development with
> > the acronym (NADD). 2. Goal The goal of the alliance is to put an end to
> > self-perpetuating rule, ensure the empowerment of the people so that they
> > can par! ticipate in sustainable development. 3. Strategic Objectives The
> > strategic objectives of the Alliance shall be to: A. put in place
> > constitutional and legal instruments as well as democratic institutions and
> > practices covering all areas of state administration and management so as to
> > put a definitive end to self-perpetuating rule and ensure the empowerment of
> > the people; B. pull together resources within the framework of the
> > alliance to contest the forthcoming presidential, National Assembly and
> > Local Government elections; C. Launch a five year transitional
> > rectification programme in order to ensure an open democratic society based
> > on the promotion of national unity, freedom, peace, prosperity and justice
> > for all; D. create an economic environment that ensures the development
> > of the productive base, maximize economic growth, employment and general
> > welfare as well as foster African regional integration; E. promote the
> > ideals, policies a! nd programmes of ECOWAS and other sub-regional groupings
> > in particular and the African Union in general; F. promote the fullest
> > participation of the people, especially the Gambian women, in development
> > and maximize the benefits derived therefrom; G. promote the prestige and
> > image of the country internationally by ensuring full respect for the human
> > rights of the citizenry and their democratic participation in running the
> > country in accordance with the ideals enshrined in international human
> > rights law and norms of best practice; H. develop partnership with civil
> > society organizations to enable them to participate and guide the governance
> > and development priorities of the country; I. encourage the freedom of
> > information through the creation of laws and practices that would safeguard
> > the independence and impartiality of the public media and the freedom of the
> > non-governmental media to disseminate information without censorship; J.
> > establish a c! ode of conduct that will put an end to the politics of
> > slander, character assassination, patronage and intimidation and replace it
> > with the politics based on enlightenment, principles, policies and
> > programmes.  4. Composition A. All opposition parties who are
> > signatories to this memorandum of understanding shall be founding members of
> > the Alliance. B. Any opposition party that has not been a member of the
> > Alliance may notify the coordinator of its intention to accede to this
> > Memorandum Of Understanding. The coordinator shall, upon receipt of such
> > notification, provide them with an official copy of the Memorandum of
> > Understanding and further transmit the signed copy to the executive
> > committee of the Alliance. The opposition party acquires full membership
> > once the instrument of accession is reviewed and approved by the executive
> > committee and deposited at the Secretariat of the Alliance.  C. All
> > members of the Alliance shall be e! qually represented in all the organs of
> > the Alliance.  PART II POLICY MAKING ORGANS 5.The Executive Committee There
> > shall be an Executive Committee of the Alliance, which shall be the highest
> > decision making organ of the Alliance comprising two members from each
> > member party. One other member shall be selected to serve as an alternate.
> > At least one of the Permanent Members of the Executive Committee or the
> > alternate shall be a woman The Executive Committee shall be responsible for
> > policy making. The Chairperson, Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator of the
> > Alliance shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. 6.TheTechnical Committee Policy,
> > Planning, Assessment and Advisory Organ There shall be a Technical
> > Committee of the Alliance comprising two members and one alternate member
> > appointed by each member party. At least one of the permanent members of the
> > Technical Committee or the alternate shall be a woman. T! he Technical
> > Committee shall have an advisory role and shall be accountable to the
> > Executive Committee for all its activities. It shall be responsible for
> > the facilitation of policy formulation, planning, assessment, briefings and
> > recommendations to the Executive Committee. It shall receive periodic
> > assignments from the Executive Committee for review and recommendation on
> > any matter. 7. The Secretariat Administrative, Information, Education,
> > Communication and Implementation Organ There shall be a secretariat
> > constituting the administrative and financial organs of the Alliance. It
> > shall be the administrative and implementation organ of the alliance. It
> > shall have an administrative and financial staff managed by a subcommittee
> > comprising the Coordinator and one of the members of the party
> > representatives in the Technical Committee, with the other member serving as
> > alternative. The secretariat shall be housed in the headquarters of the
> > Alliance and sha! ll have branches in the seven administrative areas. The
> > exercise of direction and control over matters relating to staff, budgets,
> > banking, finance, accounting and auditing shall be bound by established
> > rules and procedures drawn up by the Technical Committee and approved by the
> > Executive Committee. It shall implement policies on information, education
> > and communication as proposed by the Technical Committee and approved by the
> > Executive Committee. The Chairperson shall preside over all meetings of
> > the Executive Committee. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Coordinator
> > or Deputy Coordinator shall preside. The Chairperson and Coordinator shall
> > perform advisory functions. Neither the Chairperson nor the Coordinator or
> > Deputy Coordinator shall have voting powers.  PART III ELECTIONS AND
> > TENURE OF OFFICE 8. Nomination of Candidate The selection of the
> > candidate of the Alliance for the presidential, National Assembly and
> > council electi! ons shall be done by consensus; provided that in the event
> > of an impasse selection shall be done by holding a primary election
> > restricted to party delegates on the basis of equal number of delegates,
> > comprising the chairman, chairwoman and youth leader of each party from each
> > village/ward in a constituency. 9. Tenure of Office of Interim President
> > under the Alliance a) The interim president of the republic under the
> > Alliance shall serve for one five year term of office only. He/she shall
> > vacate his or her seat at the end of his or her term and shall neither seek
> > nor support the candidature of any other person for the ensuing presidential
> > election. b) A constitutional provision shall be put in place under the
> > Alliance that would limit the number of terms a person can occupy the office
> > of president of the republic to two.  PART IV PROCEDURES 10. Decision
> > Making Decision making at all levels of the committees of the Alliance !
> > shall be based on the principle of unanimity provided that matters of
> > procedure shall be determined on the basis of simple majority of the
> > delegates present and voting. In the event of the need to break an impasse
> > the delegates may agree unanimously to make a decision by consensus. 11.
> > Quorum At least one member of each member party shall be present to have
> > a quorum. 12. Authentication All agreements or decisions shall be
> > authenticated by appending the signatures of all the representatives
> > associated with a given committee of the Alliance. All pages of any
> > agreement of the Alliance shall contain the initials of the signatories to
> > be deemed as authentic. All instruments of the Alliance shall be deposited
> > with the coordinator for safekeeping and proper custody. 13. Dissolution
> > The Alliance stands dissolved when the majority of its members sign a
> > petition to call for its dissolution and upon the confirmation of the
> > positions of each party at a ! meeting of the Executive Committee. The
> > disposal of resources shall be the subject of a subsequent protocol to the
> > Memorandum of Understanding. PART V TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 14. Every
> > mandate given and decision taken with the authorization of the Executive
> > Committee, prior to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, shall be
> > deemed to be approved as if they were done under this Memorandum Of
> > Understanding. 15. The Alliance shall prepare a Code Of Conduct to guide
> > the political conduct of its member parties and its supporters within one
> > month of the coming into force of this agreement to ensure that slander,
> > intimidation, inducement and appeal to ethnic, religious and other divisive
> > sentiments shall be expunged from the platform of the Alliance.  16. The
> > Alliance shall have an emblem, colour, motto and symbol to be determined
> > within one month of the coming into force of the agreement with the full
> > participation of its supporter! s and sympathizers. 17. The Memorandum
> > Of Understanding shall come into force upon the appending of signatures by
> > two representatives of each party, one of whom shall be its
> > president/chairperson or secretary general. 18. Upon signature of the
> > Memorandum of Understanding all provisional responsibilities such as the
> > offices of Chairperson and Coordinator ceases and the members of the
> > Executive Committee shall elect the substantive holders of such offices in
> > line with the Memorandum of Understanding.  Done this ��� day of
> > �������.. in the year ���.  National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM) National
> > Reconciliation Party (NRP)  People�s Democratic Organisation for Independence
> > and Socialism (PDOIS)  People�s Progressive Party (PPP) United
> > Democratic Party (UDP) Chairperson Coordinator ADAMA DEEN CLEARED OF
> > ALLEGATIONS By Tombong Jadama Mr. Adama Deen, the former Managing
> > Director of GPA is presently under detention at the Serious Crimes Unit of
> > the Police. It was alleged that he owned a boat, which is presently
> > harboured at the ports dockyard in Banjul. Mr. Deen is said to have bought
> > that boat and has been in contact with some people who are supposed to be
> > working for him. When this reporter visited the ports, he found military
> > personnel guarding the vessel. However, when the police PRO was contacted,
> > he revealed to FOROYAA that the police were earlier on tipped with
> > information that Mr. Deen had bought a vessel some time before his removal
> > from his position and shipped the vessel to The Gambia for his own personal
> > business. He pointed out that after their investigations they found out that
> > the vessel in question was in fact owned by one white man called Mr. Delmon
> > Thomas and the vessel arrived in The Gambia some time around mid 2004. The
> > PRO further went on the say that this Mr. Delmon had contacted ! Mr. Deen
> > who informed him that he (Deen) is no more working and would be ready to
> > work with him. He added that it was then that Mr. Thomas appointed Mr. Deen
> > as a Consultant. He further pointed out that Mr. Thomas was also doing
> > business with one Gambian by the name Mam Essa Gaye of Banjul who is his
> > partner; that in this business Mr. Delmon Thomas owns 80 % and the other 20
> > % is owned by Mam Essa Gaye, as a shareholder. PRO Bojang confirmed to
> > this reporter that as at now Mr. Deen is cleared of what he had been accused
> > of but could not say when and why Mr. Deen is going to be released to join
> > his family. However, it could be recalled that Mr. Deen had been detained
> > for more than seventy-two hours beyond what is required by the constitution.
> > Director Of Technical Services Arrested And Released What Is
> > responsible? According to reports reaching FOROYAA, the Director of
> > Technical Services at the Department of State for Works, Construction and
> > Infrastructure! Mr. Mustapha Leigh was on Thursday 13th January 2005
> > arrested and finally released on Monday 17th January 2005 but told to be
> > reporting at the Police Headquarters. According to reliable sources
> > Mustapha was arrested in connection to a letter addressed to the Department
> > of Finance concerning invoices, which have something to do with CSE company.
> > Sources also say that Leigh was put in complete incommunicado and his
> > mobile was also said to be have been seized from him but later returned.
> > When the Police PRO Aziz Bojang was contacted he confirmed seeing Mr. Leigh
> > at Police headquarters but could not confirm why he was there. He promised
> > to say something after finding out, but we could not reach him before going
> > to press.   --------------------------------- ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger -
> > all new features - even more fun! ����������������������������������������������������������
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