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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------