From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Friday, July 2, 2010, 1:59 PM

Rene, I'm pleased we have now established that any difference between party membership and party supporter, in as much as resident Gambians are concerned, is SEMANTIC and AMBIGUOUS at best. So Daffeh was correct in ridiculing Halifa's postulation that no single opposition party had more than 20,000 CARD-CARRYING members. I highlight CARD-CARRYING because that was what Halifa actually said. So Halifa was not actually wrong in what he said. It was just ridiculous a bit because he may not be aware that unlike PDOIS and possibly APRC, other parties do not REQUIRE their voters/supporters/members to carry cards depicting such registration. In general, when a citizen decides to register as a member of a party, they belong to that cadre of the party such as the executive or maintenance body of that party. That means they have "VOLUNTEERED" to assist the party in sustenance from election to election. They maintain the life of the party. Although it would be expected that those people vote for the party in all subsequent elections, they are not required to do so.

 

I think you're following my logic here Rene. Stop me when I stray.

 

If you go back and read Halifa's culprit paragraph in its entirety, you will recognize how he ascribes the realities of PDOIS and other obvious and innocuous facts, strings them together, to arrive at the conclusion that supports the postulates of PDOIS' Agenda-2011. I know he does not want to accept the fact that Agenda-2011 is replete with such garbaldigook and Gambians such as Haruna are not interested in that. We have work to do. But Halifa wants to force us to consider that cacamayme anyway by issuing a friggin Press-Release on the UDP Congress just held. First of all, if Daffeh did not respond to that insignificant press-release, I would not have given it casual review. Halifa has no locus standi to issue any release muich less press release on UDP, NRP, GMC, nadd, ppp, or APRC congress. I think you will accept that without prejudice Rene. The reason he issued a press-release on it is to find a way to advance PDOIS' campaign guised in an Agenda-2050. I know I may not convince you of that just yet. Your indoctrination in PDOIS and circumstance will not allow that just yet. But it will come for I have enormous faith in your acumen. For now, I will address your notes proper:

 

[Haruna, a political party must have clear aims and objectives of what it hopes to achieve. The members of the party are to articulate such aims and objectives, so as to give the party a political direction. The level of conviction and commitment to the ultimate aims and objectives of the party, may be more robust for a member than for a supporter. So there may be a little distinction in terms of responsibility and obligation.] Rene.

 

Rene, but for a few minor adjustments, I will agree with you on the theme of your statements. Here are the adjustments;

2nd sentence:

The EXECUTIVE members and associated affiliated groups (Youth wing, women's wing, unions) of the party are EXPECTED to articulate the party's aims and objectives. That is the campaign proper to attract supporters and voters. Rene, membership connotes a legal act, either written or oral expression. If you agreed that membership to a party in Gambia is not readily discernible from supporting such party, and you continue to be confused here, you will agree that we will not understand you very well. I want you to make that relevant distinction in your future notes.

Political direction means to seek out a sympathetic polity.The articulation here is the campaign proper. I thought I'd enhance your notes here. They all have equally robust conviction and commitment.

The members of a political party in Gambia are the same as the party's supporters Rene.

The scope and scale of conviction and commitment of a member is exactly the same as that of a supporter where membership of a party is not readily discernible.

 

[Moreover, the point I want to make is that if membership to a political party is determine by criteria; those who willingly accept to meet those criteria can therefore be said to members of that party. This is different from supporters, who may not have the same inclination to register (appy) for membership to those parties; pay the membership fee and abide by the rules and regulations that govern the party. It is the number to such registered (apply)  members of such political parties that the 20,000 figure infers.] Rene.

 

Membership of a political party in Gambia is not determined by criteria. Any citizen can be a member of any political party in Gambia. Probably with the exception of PDOIS. No other party I know of in Gambia has a policy of their supporters and voters registering as members of the party. I know that PDOIS has required the members of their Central committe and Politburo to pay dues. The executive and associated affiliate groups may contribute to the sustenance of the party but their supporters and voters are not registered members. Halifa said "CARD-CARRYING" members. This connotes the activites of communist parties who require the central committee and politburo members to carry their membership cards so they could identify each other when it comes to favouritism in policy and activities. This is the mindset that is so insiduous. You will recall in one of the notes Dad shared with us after PDOIS' Congress that alluded to setting up ventures for PDOIS members back home in Gambia. This theme of favouritism and therefore a narrowed membership pool is very detrimental to PDOIS, and it is elitist. You see Gambians have long recognized that if you are not a CARD-CARRYING member of PDOIS, even if you vote for them, you are not significant to PDOIS when it comes time to draft governance policy. This explains the 2.3% voting for PDOIS. It is likely to stay that way. It is very difficult for PDOIS to change this posture because the foundation of the party is based on such elitist and discriminatory activities based on populist rhetoric. Don't try to divine what the erudite Halifa infers. He is a prodigious writer. Some of his writings and speeches are older than you Rene.

 

[You contend that Halifa cannot know which party, if any, has 20,000, 30,000 or so members. I would only say that Halifa is very deliberate, and I will not be surprised if he comes up with an explanation of how he arrives at that conclusion.] Rene.

 

Don't worry Rene. Halifa's notes are self-explanatory. His notes said "Card-carrying" members. Look at it for yourself. I will not expect Halifa to explain that any further. That will have been an exercise in mental contortion of epochal proportions and it will open up another can of intractable worms.

 

[1. Haruna, what then is the basis of supporting a political party in the Gambia? 2. Do people support political parties base on their programs? 3. Do they support political parties base on their policies? 4. Do they support
political parties base on their ideas?] Rene.

1. Whatever basis a supporter conjures up is the basis for his/her support of a party.

2. Yes.

3. Yes

4. Yes.

 

And these 4 questions do not exhaust the calculus people in Gambia support parties.

[We have to recognize that our societies are continually in a state of conflict. More so, when it is govern by diverse interest. This is the reason we have different political parties. This is the reason we have groups that emerge and compete against each other. We all want to promote and sustain the interest of whatever we represent. However, with a democractic system organized around a sound constitutional arrangement, with checks and balances, institutions and structures that promote the health and welfare of the people, all these conflicts can be managed to the betterment of everyone.] Rene.

Believe it or not Rene I totally support your above statement and this is what my life is all about. Thank you for echoing my thoughts here.

 

[I completely agree with you about whatever electoral calculus people have in winning an election, but I do hope that it will be under an environment that promotes the rule of law; that respects the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human being. And environment that celebrates freedom of expression, and all the other freedoms, as long as it is not injurious to the state and other people.] Rene.

 

I said you were a beautiful man Rene. That was an understatement. The only adjustment I would make is to remove your last statement "as long as it is not injurious to the state and other people". This is because when people vote under a rule of law, that law takes care of injury to the state and your fellow. Unless of course you imagine other law to discern injury to state or other that is different from the reductive constitutional law. In the main, I think your heart is in the right place. And I appreciate your admission of error. I think all PDOISards should aspire to be like you Rene. They will be the wiser for it.

Haruna. I love you Rene. Did I say that? Ok. I mean it.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: rebadjan <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thu, Jul 1, 2010 6:59 pm
Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS

Haruna, I am doing good. Good to hear from you too. I have read the 

ideas that you share with me, and I find them useful. Find below my 

response to some of yours.



-----Original Message-----

From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]>

To: [log in to unmask]

Sent: Wed, Jun 30, 2010 7:34 pm

Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS



Rene, how are you? Good to hear you again.
 At least you have a 

temporary release permit from the Big Dinko. From me. Haruna. Before 

your permit expires, Let me share some ideas with you:



[--------Original Message----- From: rebadjan [log in to unmask] To: 

GAMBIA-L &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt;

Sent: Wed, Jun 30, 2010 6:24 pm Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS 

RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS

-----Original Message----- From: UDP United Kingdom 

&lt;[log in to unmask]&gt;

To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Tue, Jun 29, 2010 10:01 pm  

Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS

"But hey! did you spot Ayatollah Sallah's gaffe? He said [ I 

am paraphrasing] there is no party in the Gambia with more than 20,000 

members. Does anyone seriously believe that?"] Rene, Paraphrasing 

Daffeh.



[Is there a difference between a member of a party and a supporter of a 

party? Most of the people who vote in Gambian elections are supporters 

of the party they vote for, and may not necessarily be members of those 

parties.] Rene.



(Rene, in Gambia, there is no difference between members of a party and 

supporters of that party. Among diasporan Gambians that distinction is 

more apparent. In effect, you are right that some people who vote for a 

party in Gambia may not necessarily be members
 of the party or even 

open supporters of that party for good spectacular reason. These are 

semantics for Gambia. What Daffeh is alluding to is that Halifa cannot 

know which party if any has 20,000, 30,000, 50,000, 10,000, or 100,000 

members. To rely on such inutile analysis is sophomoric. Your statement 

about voters for a party in Gambia, can be applied to voters in any 

nation.)Haruna.



Haruna, a political party must have clear aims and objectives of what 

it hopes to achieve. The members of the party are to articulate such 

aims and objectives, so as to give the party a political direction. The 

level of conviction and commitment to the ultimate aims and objectives 

of the party, may be more robust for a member than for a supporter. So 

there may be a little distinction in terms of responsibility and 

obligation.



Moreover, the point I want to make is that if membership to a political 

party is
 determine by criteria; those who willingly accept to meet 

those criteria can therefore be said to members of that party. This is 

different from supporters, who may not have the same inclination to 

register (appy) for membership to those parties; pay the membership fee 

and abide by the rules and regulations that govern the party. It is the 

number to such registered (apply)  members of such political parties 

that the 20,000 figure infers.



  You contend that Halifa cannot know which party, if any, has 20,000, 

30,000 or so members. I would only say that Halifa is very deliberate, 

and I will not be surprised if he comes up with an explanation of how 

he arrives at that conclusion.





[In the US, for instance, people register their affiliation to a 

political party by being either a democrat, republican or an 

independent.] Rene.

 

(NO. That is inaccurate. In some parts of the US, folk
 register their 

party affiliation. In other parts, folk do not register their party 

affiliation. And if the US were a dictatorship where party registration 

determines whether you are accorded your human rights, you will see no 

one registering their party affiliation. The same is true for Canada, 

Russia, Mali, Australia, Ghana, Senegal, and Kenya.)Haruna.



I concur. I went back and review the literature on the political system 

in the US, particularly with respect to the Democractic party and the 

Republican party, and learn that "the political parties in the US are 

more loosely organized than in other countries."  That the Democractic 

party and the Republican party, have "no formal organization at the 

national level that controls membership, actvities, or policy 

positions. But there are states that do." "One can become a member of 

either of the political parties by merely stating that
 fact."



So my statement with respect to political party affiliation in the US 

is ill- conceived; the idea is far more elaborate than my statement 

presume. I will go back and understand the literature more.

  

[In the Gambia people do not register their affiliations to a poltical 

party.] Rene.

 

(And for good reason. Whatever the case, it is individual decision to 

register affiliation or not to register affiliation. It is not decreed 

by law of any nation that citizens must register their party 

affiliation. If you were in Gambia, would you register your membership 

to PDOIS? That is if you are not a member of the Central Committee or 

Politburo. Just an ordinary member. I think Halifa is confusing 

executive and other committee membership with general membership. He 

needs to make that clear. And you need to adjust your postulations 

about the folk of US.)Haruna.



Only, if I have to
 run for political office would party affiliation 

become somewhat formal. I would register my membership to PDOIS if I 

want to run for political office in the name of PDOIS. I have 

reconsidered my earlier remark about party affiliation in the US given 

what I know now.

 

[They register to obtain a voters card. And may or may not be members 

of a political party.] Rene.

 

This is what happens in all nations which hold elections for one reason 

or the other. And the reason is you register so you can be issued a 

voter's card. The registration itself is conducted to ascertain your 

eligibility to vote and to reduce electoral fraud. It is not to 

determine which party you are affiliated with. I think 

requiring registration for party affiliation is a communist idea. Why 

would you not acknowledge that someone can change his or her mind on 

the day of election. Why would you jail them to vote
 for a party? There 

is no point in registering one's party affiliation. if that is so, you 

do not need to conduct elections. Why waste the resources when you can 

simply count those registrations for the appropriate party on election 

day??????????"Haruna.



  Point well taken. Since I made the postulation based on a faulty 

reasoning. "In some states, a voter can register as a member of one or 

another party, and vote in the primary elections of one or another 

party. Such participation does not restrict one's choices in any way."  



[That is why it is difficult to quantify the support base of a 

political party in the Gambia.] Rene.

 

(NO no no no no. There you go again. You erroneously establish 

registration for party affiliation as a standard, then you draw 

conclusions based on that standard. I know there will be nothing PDOIS 

would want more than to compel folk to register their party
 

affiliation. You can probably do it when I leave you here to play with 

folk's lives. It ain't gonna happen as long as I'm alive. On my dead 

body.) 



Ok, Haruna. Don't prosecute PDOIS for what is clearly my own ill 

conceived notion. Nobody is going to force anybody to do what they 

don't want to do.



[Whereas affilation to a political party is govern by principles 

in places like the US;] Rene.

 

You PDOISards are so funny. What principles is party affiliation 

governed by the US RENE??????????????????????????????? Voting and party 

support in the US is based on the same principles and values as it is 

everywhere in the world. I think these temporary permits out of the Big 

Dinko is good for you. Talk to Americans around you. They'll let you 

know.

 

[in the Gambia affiliation to a political party is more nuanced.] Rene.

 

All principles are nuanced Rene.
 This is because they are individual 

principles. There is not a set set of principles in the US or anywhere 

in the world upon which any voter is mandated to base their electoral 

calculus. You don't understand do you? What state in the US do you live 

in Rene?

 

[It could be motivated by any given factor.] Rene.

 

YES. For anyone anywhere in the world. It is based on conditions on the 

ground. Just like our pulling out of Afghanistan.

 

[This is the reason why some political analyst give reference to 

patronage, inducement, ethnicity and other shared common linkages as 

factors that can influence the support base for a political party.] 

Rene.

 

(And do you see anyone paying those idiots for their analysis? You get 

what you pay for. Analysts are a dime a dozen. And let me share a 

secret with you Rene. Don't pay any analyst who tells you folk vote for 

or support parties in
 Gambia based on patronnage, inducement, 

ethnicity, and other shared common linkages. You know why? Its because 

these are reasons folk cast their votes everywhere and besides, you 

cannot force anyone to change their electoral calculus and have it free 

and fair. Men. You PDOISards have a warped sense of the world in which 

you live. No wonder you're in a Big Dinko.)Haruna.



  Haruna, what then is the basis of supporting a political party in the 

Gambia? Do people support political parties base on their programs? Do 

they support political parties base on their policies? Do they support 

political parties base on their ideas?



We have to recognize that our societies are continually in a state of 

conflict. More so, when it is govern by diverse interest. This is the 

reason we have different political parties. This is the reason we have 

groups that emerge and compete against each other. We all want to
 

promote and sustain the interest of whatever we represent. However, 

with a democractic system organized around a sound constitutional 

arrangement, with checks and balances, institutions and structures that 

promote the health and welfare of the people, all these conflicts can 

be managed to the betterment of everyone.



I completely agree with you about whatever electoral calculus people 

have in winning an election, but I do hope that it will be under an 

environment that promotes the rule of law; that respects the sanctity 

of human life and the dignity of the human being. And environment that 

celebrates freedom of expression, and all the other freedoms, as long 

as it is not injurious to the state and other people.



[It is therefore not outside the realm of possibilties, that you will 

find a political party that does not have  20,000 registered members, 

who are bind by the constitution and the
 rules and regulations that 

govern the party.] Rene.

 

Realm of possibilities???? Duh!!!! Registered members???????? I don't 

see the word Registered in Mr. Daffeh's quote. And even if that is what 

Halifa meant, which other party requires all citizens who would vote 

for them to register as members???????????? I don't understand. I 

encourage PDOIS to dispense with the idea of requiring their supporters 

and past voters to register as members of the party. You are 

effectively imprisoning the mind? How do you know the voter will not 

want to change his/her mind a minute after such registration. Please 

don't hold our people hostage to dictatorship and communism. What????? 

This is why I advised Daffeh Gambians should leave PDOISards in their 

Big Dinko for a while longer. Because even when we go near the Dinko to 

give them a hand up, they want to pull us in with them. What????????????



Haruna, you
 have to understand that political parties are formed by 

individuals who want to represent their interest, as well as the 

interest of others. Everyone has the right to represent and to be 

represented by others. But we all have the choice either to accept that 

representation or to seek it elsewhere. This is why we have choices. 

And we can choose among the political parties that come before us and 

look at their programs and policies and make inform choices. Or even 

bad choices. But then every five years when we have elections we can 

correct whatever bad choices we made the last time. We just have to 

work on having a conducive environement and a political temperament 

that accepts dissenting views. How I long to see in the street corners 

of Banjul and other metropolitan capitals in the Gambia, what I see in 

the street corners of Manhattan and elsewhere, of people venting their 

anger  and frustration with
 loud speakers for all to hear. At the end 

of the day they will pack all their paraphernalia and head quietly 

home.



You make an interesting observation about party requirements for 

registration of membership. How is it going to work? To just declare 

your membership of a party and then wait patiently to vote.



Thanks for the good ideas. And thanks for the company too.





Rene





I encourage you guys to speak some more. We don't want to get surprised 

by your schemin'. Registered members!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wolla Allah!!!! 

Haruna.



  I find that statement quite pathetic. May be that is just another

typical PDOIS hyperbole. The guys now sounds like a complete tosser. No

wonder the other parties are taking no notice.

 

Regards

 

Daffeh





 

On 30/06/2010, Haruna Darbo &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt; wrote: Mr.

Daffeh, to butress your point in PDOIS' arrogance and haughty

disposition, and before Caesar get ahold of your notes, the reason why

PDOIS is not naturally capable of negotiation or considering any other

point of view can be traced to PDOIS' origins. PDOIS began as an

instrument of "Re-education" for a people they view as savage,

illiterate, and unconditioned. In other words instead of accepting that

their fellow Gambians have a right to Free choice, expression, and

association for industry and worship, PDOIS asserts that a sovereign

must have a base level of consciousness and or "education" before these

sacrosanct divine rights can be appreciated. So PDOIS has assigned

itself the duty to conduct that re-education and conscience-building in

order to make the Gambian people ready to receive their God-given

rights. Well I want
 PDOIS to know something: We are not fully

edumacated yet. I should think we will be ready in 2050. Forget

Agenda-2011. We want Agenda-2050.

 

With Love from Haruna. And Badou I'm not paranoid or angry. I'm pissed.



 







-----Original Message-----

From: UDP United Kingdom &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt;

To: GAMBIA-L &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt;

Sent: Tue, Jun 29, 2010 6:28 pm

Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS



''In the spirit of compromise, will the UDP consider a united front led

by your party leader on the above premise? With your party's numerical

strength, I don't
 see any down side to such an arrangement. Is there?

At the end of the purported five years, you should cruise to victory in

a free and fair elections. No? ''

 

Ousman, thanks for your observation above.However, its looks like this

is not even a starter as PDOIS would not even entertain any discussion

that tend to suggest a UDP led allaince.In 2006, the UDP invited

NADD's flag bearer for talks regarding the possible inclusion of NADD

into the UDP led allaince but this was outrightly rejected. Halifa is

on records saying any such thing will amount to helping somebody to

become an elite. So it is clear these people's ego and arrogance will

never allow them to reason with anybody. That is why when we talk

about a coaliton of opposition parties, it is better we don't talk

about  PDOIS. I personally don't want them there and I certainly don't

want them to be talked to. These people will never
 entertain anything

that is not their creation and unfortunately, theirs' are always alien

to our planet. For Example, where on earth did you ever heard a

coalition of independant soveriegn parties contesting a primary to

choose a candidate? You tell them that; they would say oh no agenda

2011 is not partisan. If it is not partisan why calling on parties to

endorse it?

 

We all have Agenda 2011 in our own rights.  They just happen to be

different. My understanding from OJ's Freedom Newspaper Radio interview

is that this Agenda 2011 being talked about by PDOIS  is Halifa

Sallah's agenda for the year 2011. So it must be left to him for he is

entitled to have an agenda of his own.

 

I will not talk about some of the grotesque statements made in the

PDOIS Press Release for there is a lot in store for that but can I say

one thing;other than reference to the constituent parties
 of

NADD, there is no single mention of the word 'party' in the MOU  that

establishes NADD.

 

Kind regards

 

Daffeh

 

 









 

On 29/06/2010, Ousman Ceesay &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt; wrote:

Suntou,Politics is the art of compromise. I understand the numerical

strength of the UDP in comparison to their siblings in the opposition

going by the results of past elections. However, reading through the

Foroyaa editorial posted by Nyang, I am intrigued by the following:

"Hence PDOIS favours the creation of a transitional administration

after the APRC government that would last for a period of 2 to 5 years".



In the spirit of compromise, will the UDP consider a united front led

by your party leader on the above premise? With your
 party's numerical

strength, I don't see any down side to such an arrangement. Is there?

At the end of the purported five years, you should cruise to victory in

a free and fair elections. No?



The only sticking point in the editorial is the issue of primaries.

Intra-party primaries are prevalent, but inter party primary isn't

going to wash. However, I think PDOIS is pragmatic enough to let that

slide if the transition government arrangement is agreed to by the UDP.

How about giving it a try guys? Hon. Sidia Jatta is the liaison for

PDOIS outreach. Who is the liaison for the UDP, NRP? Intransigence and

ideological purity will not win at the end of the day, but pragmatism

will.



http://gambian.blogspot.com

 



From: suntou touray &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt;

To: [log in to unmask]

Sent: Tue, June 29, 2010 7:18:28 AM

Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS



Indeed Haruna, no change there. Unbelievable stuff. Unity, what unity?

Blame the big fish...It will work

No comments...

Suntou



 

On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 4:40 AM, Haruna Darbo

&lt;[log in to unmask]&gt; wrote:

Oh brother.

Haruna.





-----Original Message-----

From: Modou Nyang &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt;

To: GAMBIA-L &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt;

Sent: Mon, Jun 28, 2010 10:59 pm

Subject: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS



PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS



By Mamadou Dem on 28-06-10 (127 reads) News by the same author



We publish below the full text of the press release of the People’s

Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) which

was read by its Secretary General, Halifa Sallah, at a press conference

held at the People’s Centre on Saturday, 26 June 2010:



The people of the Gambia are facing the most decisive period of our

history. They are at a cross roads. The moment of decision is just

around the corner. In 2011 they will
 have the power to determine who

will manage the affairs of the country. They have the option to give a

fresh mandate to the person in office or elect an alternative leader

  from the ranks of the opposition. The voter’s card is an instrument 

for

putting, maintaining or removing a representative in office. What the

voter thinks should be the concern of those who wish to seek their

votes to become public trustees. What the political parties and

personalities think should be the concern of every voter. Winning or

losing an election could be determined by the vote of a single voter.

Hence each vote is significant enough to determine who or who will not

be the president of a country or a representative at a particular

level. Each voter is as significant as the person who is elected

through the combined votes to preside over the affairs of a Nation. The

begotten leader cannot be more important than the voter who
 makes him

or her a leader. Power therefore belongs to the voters. It is only

entrusted to leaders to serve the interest of the people. Once that

power is abused trust is broken and the people have the authority to

demand for or take back their power and entrust it to any one who could

earn their trust. The challenge of political leadership is how to earn

the trust and confidence of the voters. This is the challenge that all

political parties and leaders must face. They cannot survive without

being equal to the challenge. 



This is why political parties hold congresses and issue Press Releases

for people to have the information they need to decide which party and

leaders could best serve their interest.2010 is the year of Congresses

and demand by the grass roots for Internal Party Democracy in the

Gambia. Two Opposition parties, PDOIS and the UDP have held their

Congresses. The rest are expected to hold
 their own in due course. What

does the future hold for the electorate is of fundamental importance?

This is why PDOIS sees the need to clear some doubts and help the voter

to know where we are to go from here.



PDOIS aims to reiterate again that it could function as a normal party

within a multi party system that seeks the mandate of the people on the

basis of its principles, policies, programmes and practices. Few people

would disagree that PDOIS has a leadership that has the knowledge and

honesty and is capable of making the supreme sacrifice necessary to

promote the liberty and prosperity of the Gambian people. PDOIS is

however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to

reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on

the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices.



PDOIS is also conscious that the creation of a genuine multi party

system that
 allows free flow of divergent views on the media will

enable PDOIS to participate in battle to win the hearts and minds of

the people and contest for votes on the basis of its principles

policies and programmes. PDOIS has always been convinced that if coup

makers could concede to a two year time table in order to restore a

constitutional and electoral system which promotes self perpetuating

rule the opposition forces could also agree to a transition programme

to build a genuine multi party system founded on a Genuine Republican

Constitution and a free and fair voting system that would give rise to

the undiluted choice of the people.



 Hence PDOIS favours the creation of a transitional administration

after the APRC government that would last for a period of 2 to 5 years.



The PDOIS Congress has mandated the Central Committee to mandate Sidia

Jatta, NADD National Assembly Member, to be responsible for
 inter party

relations. All those who wish to discuss relation between political

parties should contact Sidia Jatta.

PDOIS is interested in ensuring that the sovereign Gambian people take

full charge of their destiny by 2011.



PDOIS is conscious of the fact that during all the nominations for

Presidential elections since 1997, no Presidential Candidate has ever

had one’s nomination forms signed by more than 20,000 people. This

confirms that no party in the Gambia has more than 20,000 card carrying

members. This means that most of the 670,336 registered voters are not

members of political parties. This is why they shift their political

loyalties from one political party to another with relative ease. There

are no ideological blocs among the electorate. The country has never

had the opportunity to have a citizenry who vote on the basis of the

principles, policies, programmes and practices of parties. This is
 why

the country needs a new start that will enable all political parties to

have a level ground to contest free and fair elections. At the moment

the ground is not level or plain and each opposition party will have an

uphill battle to wage to win an elections. This is why PDOIS is of the

view that a platform should be created that will enable the Gambian

electorate to come together to vote for the change we want and need, in

order to build the genuine democratic system, that ensures that their

consent will determine their manner of government.



This is why the PDOIS Congress of 24th April 2010 has passed a

resolution which imposes on the PDOIS leadership the decision to

promote the selection of an opposition Presidential Candidate through a

primary. In short, all those who wish to stand against the APRC

candidate, be they members of political parties or independent

personalities, would accept to face each
 other at a primary and would

mutually vow to support the single candidature of the winner. The

winner will also agree to administer a transitional Cabinet for a

period of two to five years and build the instruments, institutions and

culture of democracy, rights and justice that would culminate in the

creation of an open and free society that would allow a genuine multi

party system to thrive. The winner will not carry out any witch hunting

of members of the past and present administration but would allow the

courts to function and grievances be pursued through the courts or

alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. All institutions, private or

public which are legally established will be protected throughout the

transition. Cabinet would be constituted through consultation with all

stakeholders This is what Agenda 2011 is all about.



PDOIS’ Congress called on all parties to hold Congresses and
 consider

what is offered by agenda 2011 so that all parties will utilise their

own platform to promote the determination of an opposition Candidate

through a primary and prepare themselves for future multiparty contest

after the transition.



The Central Committee of PDOIS takes this opportunity to reiterate

PDOIS’ stand. It wants its supporters in particular and all those

Gambian people who value their sovereignty to know that the only

transformation that is possible in 2011 is one that could attract the

support of  the 405,932000 voters who did not vote for President Jammeh

in 2006.and the 542,o55 voters who did not vote for the opposition 

Most of these people are likely to become involved if they know that

they are going to be mandated to select a candidate who will accept to

serve for one term to put a genuine multiparty system in place and

leave office like Nelson Mandela. As far as PDOIS is
 concerned, this

transitional Candidate will not have to be a PDOIS leader. He or she

could originate from another party or civil society. He or She could be

any body selected by the people through a primary.



Secondly, the PDOIS Congress resolves that PDOIS maintains its relation

with NADD until the next Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Sidia Jatta has started consultation with our other partner in NADD.

They had agreed to wait for the outcome of the UDP Congress to complete

their discussion. PDOIS anticipates that its partner in NADD would hold

a Congress and embrace Agenda 2011 so that NADD would also embrace

Agenda 2011. Notwithstanding the Central Committee has resolved to hold

a PDOIS rally in support of Agenda 2011 on the 31st of July 2010 at

LatriKunda Yerri Nganya, adjacent to the mosque where PDOIS held its

first rally in 1986.  



PDOIS DISAGREMENT WITH UDP AND NRP

PDOIS
 wrote to UDP before its Congress to indicate to them that the

party was waiting for the resolution of the UDP Congress on inter party

unity in order to know what form of Alliance could be forged for

2011.  



The UDP leader, in his address to the Congress indicated that the

registration of NADD was a disaster. PDOIS would want its supporters in

particular and all those interested in Gambian politics in general to

know that the registration of NADD was Constitutional requirement. No

candidate could contest under NADD without its registration as a

political party. PDOIS advances a challenge to any leader who disagrees

with this view. Hence those who did not support the registration of

NADD should not have signed the Memorandum of Understanding

establishing NADD.



  In short , under the strategic objectives of the Memorandum, Parties

“agreed to put together resources within the framework of
 the Alliance

to contest the forthcoming Presidential, National Assembly and Council

elections”  It adds that “The selection of the candidate of the

Alliance  for the Presidential, National Assembly and Council elections

shall be done by consensus, provided that in the event of an impasse

selection shall be done by primary election restricted to party

delegates, on the basis of equal number of delegates, comprising the

Chairman, Chairwoman and youth leader of each party  from each village

or ward in a constituency”



In terms of the tenure of office, the memorandum states that “The

interim President of the Republic under the Alliance shall serve for

one five year term of office only. He/she shall vacate his or her seat

at the end of his or her term of office and shall neither seek nor

support the candidature of any other person for the ensuing

presidential elections.

A constitutional
 provision shall be put in place under the Alliance

that would limit the number of terms a person could occupy the office

of president of the Republic to two.”  Hence all parties which signed

the Memorandum agreed to put up Candidates under a NADD ticket. This is

incontrovertible. Now one may ask: Could a candidate stand on a NADD

ticket without NADD being registered as a Party? The answer is in the

negative. It is obvious to any one who has read section 60 of the

Constitution that we could not put up Candidates under NADD until NADD

was registered as a party. It reads “ No association , other than a

political party registered under or pursuant of an Act of the National

Assembly, shall sponsor Candidates in public elections” NADD  had to be

registered. Did we have to lose National Assembly seats because of the

Registration? The answer is in the Negative.



Section 91 subsection 1 d of the
 Constitution states that

“a member of the National Assembly shall vacate his or her seat in the

National Assembly-if he or she ceases to be a member of the political

party of which he or she was a member at the time of his or her

election;

provided that nothing in this paragraph shall appy on a merger of

political parties at the national level where such a merger is

authorised by the Constitution of the parties concerned.”

The simple and elementary truth is that all parties that had agreed to

put up Candidates under NADD had merged into NADD. The IEC also

conceived NADD as an Umbrella party, a merger. They argued their case

in that regard and even told the court that they had drafted the rules

governing Alliances. The disaster is that NADD’S Counsels did not use

merger of parties as a defence to save National Assembly seats. The

registration of NADD was not an error. The only legal advice that
 was

legitimate was to tell parties that they were creating a merger by

signing the memorandum of understanding. Hence those who did not want

a  merger should not have signed. The error was to fail to get every

party to sign to indicate in black and white that they conceived NADD

as an umbrella Party or merger or resin from NADD before the court

case. No room would have been left for historical excuses that are so

evident after NADD’s disintegration.



Secondly, in his address to the UDP Congress the NRP leader claimed

that he left NADD because other parties did not believe in his

principle of allowing the party with the majority to lead. This claim

is incorrect.

The NRP signed a memorandum which indicated that the selection of

Candidates would be done through a unanimous vote of executive members

or a primary. It goes without saying that during the first attempt to

select a candidate in accordance
 with the principle of unanimity, it

is  Dulo Bah, the representative of the NRP who nominated a

representative of the PPP and Pa Manneh , a representative of NDAM who

seconded the nomination of the representative of the PPP. This

compelled UDP and PDOIS representatives to make their own nominations

and thereby created an impasse. It was the Coordinator who explained

that the Executive Committee only  had the power to select a candidate

if their decision is unanimous, otherwise election would have to take

place in the form of a primary to enable the people to select the flag

bearer.  At no time did the NRP leader denounce Dulo Bah and state a

party position for the selection of the flagbearer.Infact when the

delegates met to try to make a second attempt to reach unanimity by

establishing some criteria to guide the nomination process the NRP

leader never advocated for the selection a majority party
 leader as a

criterion. Through out the history of NADD, the NRP leader had never

proposed for an Amendment of the memorandum to incorporate what he

called his principle. Such attempts to rewrite history only undermine

mutual trust between opposition leaders fans polemics and draws

attention away from the ruling party and focus it on the squabbles

among the opposition. PDOIS hopes that leaders would realise that any

refusal to accept the facts will push us to propagate fiction which

will not lead us to draw appropriate lessons to move forward.



Conclusion

To conclude PDOIS would want the people to recall that Gambia has been

led by 2 Heads of state for the past 45 years. In the next 15 years

those who were born in 1965 will be 60 years.It is clear that unless we

break the current trend of self perpetuating rule two heads of state

will lead the Gambia for 60 years.



As we face another election cycle it is
 the duty of every sovereign

Gambian

who is 18 years old and above  to reflect on the state of the Gambia

after 45 years of Nationhood and ask whether this is the same Gambia,

with its growing poverty, redundancies, growth of drug lords and

contraction of liberty that should continue to be up to the year 2020

and beyond. It is now time for each Gambian to sit and reflect on the

type of Gambia one wants to be a citizen of and the role one is to play

in shaping the destiny of one’s country and people.  This is the

challenge of 2011.Are we up to the challenge. History the keen recorder

of events has its eyes and ears open. The future will tell the story.

Our children and children’s children will be the judge.



The End



Issued by The Central Committee of PDOIS

Delivered by Halifa Sallah – Spokesperson of
 PDOIS

                        









 









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