As NRP Stays Out of Coalition, Party Leader Explains Why




The Independent (Banjul)

September 3, 2001
Posted to the web September 3, 2001

PK Jarju
Banjul, the Gambia

Prior to kicking off on the first leg of a nation wide tour last Friday, the
National Reconciliation Party's fiery brand leader Hamat Bah has finally
given an interview to the press as to the reason behind his party's apparent
refusal to join the much publicized opposition coalition of the PPP, UDP and
the GPP.

Speaking at the NRP's Banjul Bureau, Bah stated that although his party has
in the past advocated for a coalition with the UDP and other political
parties following the repeal of Decree 89, the discussions that followed
were poorly conducted "which gave us no other alternative but to opt out".
Mr. Bah who spoke bluntly of the unsatisfactory handling of the coalition
talks, said they would not join a coalition in a situation mired in
controversy.




"The NRP have their own principles, which we highly respect and we will not
embark on anything that is bound to undermine our party's principle", he
posited.

The NRP leader however categorically stated that although his party opted
out of the coalition, they share the same aims and objectives with other
opposition parties and will therefore be sharing information as to how to
"flush out President Jammeh and his APRC party from power."

Hamat Bah also asserted that despite his party's failure to join the
coalition, talks are presently underway between his party and the NCP for a
possible merger.

On the question of his party's development plans for the country, Mr. Bah
said that they have already set a lot of development plans, "that are meant
to salvage the Gambian people."

"If we succeed in flushing out Jammeh and the APRC party in the October
elections, my government would reform the tourism sector, which has already
declined by changing the marketing strategy and look at the level of the
clientele in order to uplift the tourism rate, which plays a pivotal role in
the country's economy."

On women and youths, Mr. Bah stated that the issue is high on his party's
agenda due to what he termed as their significant role in nation building.

The NRP leader promised that an NRP government will "offer the opportunity
to youths to travel abroad and learn new skills and professions, which they
could capitalize on to develop the country. On the nation's trade and
economic sector, Bah promised that his government, will set up new trade
strategies to salvage the country from what he called trade deficit and
debts facing The Gambia since 1994. "The economic sector which is sinking
rapidly will be bailed out by technocrats who would be employed to manage
the country's economy," he said.

On health and agriculture, Mr. Bah said that his government will set up a
new health policy, "that would greatly benefit the Gambian people.The
agricultural sector will be given high priority and a new groundnut
marketing system will be instituted to enrich the Gambian farmer."

On security, the NRP boss promised that he would maintain the army but will
"reduce its size and integrate those dropped from the police force." He also
promised that his government will maintain the National Intelligent Agency
(NIA) but will as he put it transform them into a responsible security unit.




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