What on earth is going on in The Gambia? Form your own opinion. Joe The Independent Published Friday, November 9, 2001 Dibba meets Jammeh Considers to join force with APRC, others for NA elections Email [log in to unmask] The leader of the National Convention Party, Sheriff Mustapha Dibba has met President Jammeh and spoke of the possibility of coalescing with any party including the APRC in the forthcoming National Assembly election. Speaking to reporters Friday after a brief State House meeting with the president whom he congratulated for his election victory last month Sheriff Dibba said he and Jammeh had discussed development issues relating the country. He underlined the need for all Gambians to support President Jammeh’s government in what he called all necessary ways vital to the development of The Gambia. On the October 18 election Mr. Dibba posited that if there were irregularities they were not overwhelming enough to affect the overall outcome of the results. “I think the last presidential election was the freest, fairest and most transparent election ever held in the country”, he stated, adding that the election has contributed immensely to the country’s democratic credentials. “We are satisfied and we look forward to the next five years. It is our duty to support government’s effort to develop this county and we will definitely do so”, he proclaimed Asked about his uncomplimentary comments about the APRC during his campaign in the last election, in which he was quoted as saying that joining the APRC was the last thing he would do, Dibba retorted, “I do not think I said so”. Regarding the forthcoming National Assembly elections he told reporters that the NCP is in the process of taking a decision on the election. He however, expressed the possibility of NCP coalescing with other political parties, including the APRC to contest the parliamentary elections. Meanwhile unconfirmed reports have suggested that Mr. Dibba was to be confirmed as the next speaker of the National Assembly. Other reports have also hinted of the prospects for the veteran politician to be appointed as vice-president. Until his visit to State House, which was the subject of rumours two weeks ago, Mr. Dibba had been scathingly critical of President Jammeh who he accused of “destroying” democracy and instilling a culture of fear and intimidation among Gambians. He was also quoted as condemning Jammeh’s regime as a military government, which made a serious mistake by banning all politicians of the old order and arresting individuals without cause. Mr. Dibba had also criticized the government’s handling of the country’s economy, saying it was responsible for the downward spiral of the local currency and the skyrocketing of commodity prices. He was also unsparing with The Gambia’s foreign policy under President Jammeh, which he blamed for what he thought at the time were costly diplomatic mistakes, citing the stand-off between Britain and The Gambia over the expulsion of Bharat Joshi the then Deputy British High Commissioner. When The Independent called Mr. Dibba, he had promised to call us later in the day although this did not come to pass. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>