The Independent (Banjul)

June 4, 2001
Posted to the web June 4, 2001

Banjul, the Gambia

A former independent candidate for Banjul Central in the last National
Assembly election has recalled on the APRC to stop reminding Gambians about
projects they have facilitated and tell the people what they intend for the
country.

Speaking during a UDP rally in Banjul South on May 26, Pa Sallah Jeng said
Gambians have heard enough about the new airport terminal, the television
station and other AFPRC/APRC projects which he said are not enough to change
the lives of ordinary Gambians. "We want to shift the notion to policy
oriented issues because they are what count at the end of the day", he told
the gathering. He said the country's poverty index was rising at an alarming
rate and adversely affecting under-privileged members of Gambian society
particularly children. He referred to the falling value of the local
currency the Dalasi and "the prohibitive level of taxation", which he said
are forcing small-scale businesses to close down. He warned ordinary people
not to be carried away by Vision 2020, which he described as another
unrealisable dream like the Singapore dream of the early 1990s. "Gambians
should know that Singapore was successful not because they lived on dreams
but because they worked hard to put up an efficient system, which enabled
them to develop a manufacturing base," he said.

On education, Mr. Jeng said Gambians have been told by the APRC
administration that there are more schools in the country.

"Of course this is expected because our population has grown bigger and that
means more children need to be educated. I wish to however remind them that
children from Latrikunda Sabiji still continue to go to school in Bakoteh
and that St Mary's school in Banjul needs to be rehabilitated as its
infrastructure is falling apart," he remarked.

He said most people have lost confidence in the public school system and
many parents who can afford it are now taking their children to private
schools. Teachers he asserted are not giving their best because of the
government's negative attitude towards education. "The teachers are not paid
on time and they lack incentives," he said.

Mr. Jeng said any future UDP government would focus more on quality
education than beautiful infrastructure.

On the Gambian economy Mr. Jeng said it was among the strongest in the sub
region when the soldiers took over power in 1994. He said the infrastructure
was in place while the APRC regime was claiming credit for all that. He
reminded President Jammeh about his promise to provide electricity and water
to 98 percent of the country by July 2001, otherwise there would be no July
22nd celebrations.

Under a UDP government Mr. Jeng said public fund would not be spent on
expensive cars and other luxury items for the benefit of a few people. "We
shall focus our energies on how to eradicate hunger, poverty and disease and
human rights abuses rather than use state resources for the benefits of a
few party stalwarts," he added. He urged the local government authorities to
remain neutral rather than allow themselves to be used as agents of the
ruling APRC.

"There is now hardly a distinction between the APRC and the state. Party
agents see themselves as having authority over even civil servants with
municipalities being transformed into July 22nd camps," he remarked.


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