No One Can Stop Opposition Party Meetings - Sidia Jatta The Point (Banjul) September 13, 2000 Banjul The National Assembly member for Wuli and the PDOIS presidential candidate, Sidia Jatta, has stressed that no one on this earth can stop them from holding public meetings or rallies in this country. Mr. Jatta made this statement last Saturday at a mass political rally in Serrekunda, while reacting to earlier rumours that no party will be allowed to hold political meetings. Sidia said even if they came with all the guns, they would never be threatened, and that even if they killed them, the truth they preach would never be destroyed and would remain here for generations to come. Gambian people, Sidia said, should no longer tolerate their president and National Assembly members as their kings, that they are their servants and representatives who can be removed if they do not satisfy their electorates. Mr. Jatta condemned and blamed the politics of insults and hypocrisy among the Gambian people. According to him, the Gambians should instead blame themselves for the hardship they are encountering, not the National Assembly members, since they have the right to recall them if they do not perform their duties efficiently and satisfactorily. Mr. Jatta also described as baseless rumours that no elections will be held in the Gambia. It is a constitutional right for elections to be held in the country and, therefore, warned Gambians to desist from such rumourmongering. "No one can protect the Gambia except Gambians," Sidia noted. Sidia also told the gathering that no one is paying taxes for any individual purpose, but to provide public services such as good roads, schools and hospitals for the entire populace. He cited the poor state of the roads in the country, and garbage everywhere around the KMC area which makes the area completely filthy and unhygienic for the health of its inhabitants. Provision of electricity and clean water, according to Mr. Jatta, still remain problems to Gambians. According to him, the electricity problem has become worse anytime the president speaks about it. This was received with loud applause and laughter among the audience. Mr. Jatta also disclosed at the rally that every new born baby today owes a debt of more than D2000; that out of the D1.45 billion in the Gambian budget from January to December, D352 million will all go into debt payments. That should have been used to create employment and provide many basic things for the Gambian people, he pointed out. Halifa Sallah disclosed that there is little or no difference in the living standard of the Gambian as compared to the past and now. He cited the poor living standard of the average Gambian. He also said the unemployment rates are high, and the country lacks good roads, among other things. Mr. Sallah described as baseless allegations made against them that PDOIS and the APRC are the same. While the other National Assembly members paid themselves D7,000 the Wuli National Assembly member only receives D2500 and has reserved the rest for his electorates called the Wuli Trust Fund. The rally was chaired by Mrs. Amie Sillah. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------