No Meet the People's Tour Yet

The Independent (Banjul)
EDITORIAL
November 29, 2002
Posted to the web November 30, 2002
Banjul

The year is winding up and yet, nothing is being heard of the traditional 'Meet
The People' tour.

Every year, in September or October, the president tours the provinces to
entertain the peoples' complaints about problems affecting them.

Farmers particularly have looked forward to this visit by the president who use
such tours year in year out, to make problem-solving pledges.

However, this year, no sign of such a tour has been made yet this year, a
crucial time of our national crisis when people need his attention and
intervention to address the anomalies that has gripped us all.

We join the rest of the Gambian nation in wondering why, especially, at this
worst period of our hardship is President Jammeh not taking the trip to meet
the poor people who need to be told what is going wrong and why. We want to
understand that such are not a matter o convenience for any Gambian leader once
they decide to embark on them in the spirit of sharing the troubles of the poor
farmers. Unless of course, we are made to believe that it is one of his
trademark populism, this year's tour could have been the best time for Jammeh
to go and explain to the people the reasons for our ailing economy, which has
gravely affected a host of other areas.

But it is hard to imagine how Yahya Jammeh's government will attempt to explain
the problems we are currently facing without owning up to the fact that it was
all as a result of mal-administration and having a Cabinet with a one man show.
It is difficult to fathom how Jammeh will address farmers without, looking in
hindsight and pointing out what was not done that should have been done, what
was not addressed that should have been addressed and what was not consolidated
that should have been consolidated. On the whole, in view of the prevailing
situation, we at The Independent believe that it is a time to own up to
mistakes and not to look for scapegoats on whom to brand some blame. As we
always say the blame is at the feet of the APRC government, which has misled
people into believing that all is well when there is really no need to look
hard for any evidence because they are as glaring as the morning sun.

The farmers need answers, practical ones at that.

Among the many pledges made by the president is the rural electrification
project although very few towns in the provinces could claim to have benefited
from it. As for the Greater Banjul Area, where consumers pay more for darkness
than for light, the problem is still acute. A growing number of Gambians in the
urban and rural areas cannot afford three meals making complete nonsense
Jammeh's promises by now the turn of the last century sufficiency in food would
have been ensured.

Two years into the new millennium we are growing poorer by the day, with
agriculture our mainstay in complete disarray.

So it is not difficult to realise what Jammeh would be going to in the
provinces and perhaps explains why there is no 'Meet the Peoples' tour.

Given the desperateness of the people in their quest for survival, politically
motivated rallies in the name of a 'Meet the People' tour where empty promises
are made are not desirable.

But at the end of the day it was the confidence of the Gambian people that was
reposed on Yahya Jammeh and therefore he has a moral obligation to meet them
and explain to them why he is failing. He should not betray such confidence by
abdicating his responsibility. Whether he owns up to his failures or pins the
blame elsewhere, the fact remains that Gambians need explanation.

People are already asking why they have not welcome their president this year,
but instead hear of his sacking spree, involving some ministers, permanent
secretaries and other public officers. But is that the real solution to our
problem. If that should be the case, then Jammeh should have sacked himself a
long time ago. No doubt about that.

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