By Madi Jobarteh
The idea of de-reserving any inch of Abuko Nature Reserve is indeed scandalous. It has no purpose or justification other than to serve selfish interests at the detriment of the environment and the future of this country. Hamat Bah and all Cabinet members must be severely held accountable if they encroach on this precious reserve. Since 2017, this Government has been ravaging forests, wetlands, beaches, lands and mangroves for only selfish reasons. I’m It is unbelievable that the Ministry of Defense is blatantly flouting a court ruling with impunity. The high court ruled since 2022 that Omar Sarjo should be compensated and reinstated back in the army. Yet the Ministry and GAF have refused to do so only for the Minister to tell NAMs that they are going to engage Omar. For what? The Minister should have implemented the court order since then. His actions tantamount to contempt of court and must be held accountable.
If the EU wants to fight irregular migration, our Government has a duty to ensure that Gambians enjoy their right to international migration. The Government must not succumb to the EU to criminalize Gambians who wish to travel abroad. That’s a right guaranteed by international law. Therefore the Government must ensure that the EU bears the cost of irregular migration. Furthermore, the Government must demand that Gambians who enter Europe are not deported back but rather these European countries ensure their full integration and support. The Government must stand with its people just as the EU is protecting their interests.
The idea of giving a lump sum loan to Jah Oil does not make economic and common sense. If the loan is to help the Gambia address food challenges why not split the loan into pierces for more businesses to benefit. After all, Jah Oil is not necessarily present and active in every part of the economy and country. There are lot more SMEs who need such assistance more and who are present in the remotest parts of the country. Therefore to hand over the entire 50 million to one company cannot be right. This loan could have been distributed among 50 to 100 businesses with varying amounts. Can the Minister now tell us what he is going to do with the money?
It is heartening that at least one NAM has realized that ministers are incompetent and inefficient. Already some NAMs have also raised concern that Ministers do not provide full and honest information. The evidence is already in the various stories in this newspaper frontage. But NAMs do not have to ask for performance contracts. Rather what NAMs got to do is to invoke their powers in the Constitution and their Standing Orders to discipline incompetent, corrupt and dishonest ministers. Section 75 gives them the power to sack ministers. This is the tool NAMs should use because it is obvious that the President himself is not competent, honest and is corrupt, and so cannot hold his ministers accountable.
Gambians should document the conduct of this Government which is based on the decisions and actions of Cabinet members. Each and every Cabinet member must realize that they bear both individual and collective responsibility for the decisions that come out of Cabinet regardless of which ministry or sector it concerns. Cabinet members cannot sit there to watch corruption and violations take place in the country and claim they have no responsibility for that.
For that matter, ministers must be held accountable for the conduct of this Government, whether good or bad. To be a Cabinet member is not for free. It has consequences just as it has benefits. One cannot enjoy all the benefits of a ministerial position but refuse to take responsibility for the conduct of the Government. Ministers have tangible constitutional powers and obligations and they must be held accountable. Whether in office or out of office. Time will tell.
For The Gambia 🇬🇲 Our Homeland