Countrymen Abroad Taken to Task

http://allafrica.com/stories/200307180416.html

The Independent (Banjul)
NEWS
July 18, 2003
Posted to the web July 18, 2003

By Lamin Njie
Banjul

The minority leader in the National Assembly has taken Gambians abroad to
be more active and serious with their country's political situation.

Honourable Halifa Sallah who is the representative for Serrekunda Central
said Gambians outside the country have a responsibility to their country
just like those within and should bring pressure to bear on the authorities
to work in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the general
Gambian citizenry.

Honourable Sallah was speaking in a press conference at the PDOIS
secretariat Tuesday after returning from the just ended Diaspora summit
held in the American city of Atlanta where all the political parties with
the exception of the APRC and the NCP were present.

Honourable Sallah suggested that the organizers of the summit should go
beyond calling on the opposition to unite for their advantage over the
ruling APRC but should also participate in the whole process of exchanging
the political evolution of the country towards greater and genuine
democracy.

Halifa added that this can be done for them to work as groups which is
highly organized and highly disciplined. He said that they can divide
themselves into committees; one committee working towards the electoral
system of the Gambia by consulting with the political parties, consulting
with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and also look into the
electoral laws to find out what went wrong with the electoral system of the
Gambia.

Again, he said, as Gambians in the Diaspora, they can also look into the
problems of Gambians and see what kind of assistant they can give out back
at home. This Gambians can work with civil societies organizations, human
right organizations and other organizations that are interested in
government to create greater awareness in the Gambia communities.

He lamented that Gambians in the Diaspora can better know what is exactly
happening in the country through creating website with information that are
true and are of the people interest. They must also entertain dialogue and
mature debate so as for he political agenda of the country can be higher
than it has ever being.

He finally describe the Atlanta Summit as a school for democracy and
essential to the Gambian people as it was the wishes of the majority of
Gambians living in the Diaspora.

He said the event was meant to promote a new political climate between
Gambians abroad and those back home as for them to have a balance knowledge
of what is happening in the country.




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