Haruna,

          Thanks for the feedback. Be rest assured that this concept if fully developed will not take away anything from the import and necessity of party politics in the democractic life of our society. In fact, it should compliment and augment the shortcomings in the deliberations of party politics, to embrace a much broader vision of inclusion and participation. 



           Political parties by their very nature are limited in their association with other groups that share a different outlook, and thus restrict their capacity to be amenable to other avenues of compromise that can augur well for the national interest. Hence a strong civil society advocacy presence in the social and political life of a society, that is not encumbered by all the constrains of ideology and partisan party politics, and that can reach out to all groups who have a stake in the health and prosperity of the nation, only enhances and enriches our democractic experience.



        I am not interested in remotely advocating for the emergence of a political party; but I am predisposed to conceptualize ways in which the active participation of our citizens in the social and democractic life of our society can be harnessed. And it can be done. 



              Given the current political climate, and a political culture that has inculcated a=2
0predetermined political reality, it is necessary in an effort to promote a healthy and invigorating democractic political pluralism, to explore the possibilities of building a strong and vibrant civil society entity as part of our evolving democractic experience. Such a civil society entity can help to create and entrench institutions and structures that would engender a strong democractic culture; create the enabling social and political climate that will strengthen and promote all the organs of a vibrant democracy.  I do dream, Haruna.



    

        Rene



     

-----Original Message-----
From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, Sep 15, 2009 12:29 pm
Subject: Re: Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy




Rene, Rene, Rene, How are you???

 

I couldn't help but notice you to want to select governors of Gambia while at the same time advising a grassroots political party - KAAPODT.

 

In yielding competent governance, I advise that we focus on the INDIVIDUALS who offer themselves up for governance and their unique competences without regard to social status, association, religion, ethnicity, or ware. That is indeed how you break the cycle of dominance by one person or other. You cannot dismember a cycle by introducing a new cycle that will inevitably yield the same resultant status quo. Remember, all political parties are premised on the fact that they are grassroots campaigns.20That is how they win elections. What all bermuda-root campaigns have in common is that they have a chosen leader and followers. Therefore all such campaigns are best advised to focus on the qualities and sobriety of their leader.

 

I share that there be facility for any number of political grass roots as the citizens desire without fear or favour. Attention should be paid to marginal diseconoies in number of such parties as it relates to the population of the nation and the scope of the political space.

 

Everytime I turn around Badjan, you're coming up with a new way to skin our political cat. Do you dream Rene???? WHy not just share with us a new political party called Citizens For Active Pa rticipation In Our Democracy??? Or do you palpitate at the maiden reception of all new parties such as the GMC endured. SOme gratuitous. Others Clueless?

 

I am tired of recycling Grand openings of new parties. At some point, even recycled plastic loses its recycling value. It becomes a pile of constitutive debris. For starters, anyone who is not a member of any of the existing parties in Gambia by now, can begin his/her own party. I for one would like to see a woman begin a new party. I will be the first patron. So unless you can bring a new dynamic into party making, just tell us you want to start a new grass-roots party. And you know winter is coming so no short grasses. I recommend centipede.

 

I love you Rene. Haruna. You are making me lose my foc
us by always reminding me I need to begin anew but follow the same path nonetheless. Your this launch is full of malignant code. See you later.

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, Sep 14, 2009 4:06 pm
Subject: Re: Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy



Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy 


Are there ways and means in which Gambians can break the cycle of strangulation that few have in our political process? It is a circle in which few people take20control of the political process; consolidate themselves in that process, and perpetuate a system of political monopolization in which only a few get elected to public office. They stay elected in these public offices repeatedly in every election cycle until an unforeseen circumstance dictate otherwise. 

The above has been the political legacy of the Gambia, through successive periods of governance for over 45 years since gaining independence; and the country can claim to have only two elected presidents since the republic was founded. . A first republic that lasted for over 30 years; and a second republic that has just celebrated its 15 years in power. In order to break this cycle of power being concentrated in a few hands, a new approach should be envisioned. Power is relational; it should be exercised by those who govern and also by those who are being governed. It should be a mutual rsponsibility that should be shared by these two entities. 

The objective of the ab
ove, "Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy", should be first and foremost to bring all stakeholders: the civic groups, the professional groups, the human rights groups and all other interest persuasion groups, to participate actively in the building and consolidation of a true democratic culture in the Gambia. 

The primary goal of "The Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy" should be to foster understanding and cooperation between all the groups mentioned, both inside the country and outside of it, with a view to nurture a strong democratic dispensation and ingrain a strong desire for active participation in the civil and political discourses. The creation of such an entity should evolve an enduring and delicate balance between all the forces in our democracy. 

To this end, "The Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy" should commit itself to do the following: 

a) to hold periodic conventions around national issues of immense importance, to which all the groups mentioned above are invited; in these conventions a consensus should be forged around such national issues, and a resolution formulated that will guide a national approach to solving issues of conflict both in our politics and in our governance atmosphere. 

b) to encourage people in the various groups mentioned above to participate fully in the political process, by seeking their nomination and supporting their candidacy to run for public office; ranging from council elections, parliamentary elections to presidential elections. 
=0
A"The Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy" would endeavor to raise funds and contribute to the funding of the candidature of nominees to such elections.

The most significant aspect of the above goal is to bring parity in the political process; and remove the process from being distinctively a political party affair, and make it a more encompassing political phenomenon that embraces the best and the brightest in our society. This can also change the negative perceptions of politics20in our culture, which dissuades a large segment of the society from participating, particularly the intellectual and educated class, thereby reducing the nature and essence of our politics to the much talked about politics of deception, sycophancy and patronage.

c) to encourage the setting up, and the consolidation of grassroots movements in all parts of the country as a response to issues of conflict, and of interest, that concerns people in their communities; in their villages and in their country. A deliberate effort should be made to link all the grassroots movements around a common objective and a common goal, and organize their collective endeavors towards a unified national agenda. 

Much has been said about changing and transforming our society, but this can only be achieved if we create a vehicle for its realization, and facilitate the building of organizational structures and grassroots movements that would evoke a strong national response, and elicit a strong patriotic fervor to take our civil and political responsibilities20very seriously. This is one way in which the negative effects of apathy, both social and political, in the democratic life of our society could be reversed. 


Rene 

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