What is the best economic system The Gambia should adopt after the demise of the Jammeh regime? The best system must genuinely try to satisfy the requirements to drive maximum utility from our scarce resources for all Gambians. The terms Capitalism, Socialism and, Communism are imaginative or idealistic conditions that have never existed any where in the real world. So those terms are not very relevant to our economic problem. We must not ignore the real disease the Gambian society is suffering from. Mother Gambia is diagnosed with a disease condition that impedes her from forming a more perfect union to attain maximum prosperity for all her children. This disease condition has become very serious to a point that most of her indispensable organs, that are vital for her survival, are gradually and consistently loosing their ability to properly function. The inability to formulate, plan and coordinate basic functions to maintain life and make it prosperous for her and her
 children is her current state. Therefore, the very existence of our nation state is under threat to collapse. It is time for the people of the Gambia to take charge of our destiny. We cannot afford to wait any longer. The gravity of the situation cannot be overemphasized. 
  According to the United Nations Human Development Report 2005, Gambia’s GNI (Gross National Income) per capita is $290. The life expectancy is estimated at 54 years (men), 57 years (women). These figures suggest that living standard of average Gambians is below the level we can attain by efficiently employing the factors of production available to our society. Most of the factors of production available to us are at best underutilized or mostly being mismanaged. For example, the unemployment rate is very high, especially among High School graduates; the river Gambia and the sea are seriously under utilized. Moreover, majority of Gambians cannot read and write which has place a tremendously difficulty on their ability to comprehend complex issues affecting our country. Therefore they are susceptible to making uninformed decisions that may lead to disaster for the country. On the other hand, majority of educated Gambians are carried by their self-centered interests rather
 than the national interests. It is not uncommon to find our educated elites defending, or giving a deaf ear to, atrocities committed against our people. These so-called intellectuals, excluding a few, are only interested in their pockets and have failed to contribute their fair share in transforming our society into a more prosperous one.  It is my conviction that in order to develop Gambia, in any sense of the word, one must emphasis maximum and judicious utilization of these idle resources. We must identify all the resources available to our society and determine how to transform them into prosperity for all Gambians. I have a strong belief in the ability of Gambians to decide our own destiny towards prosperity for all regardless of any differences in background. Gambia is endowed with many smart and intelligent children, who are capable to formulate, understand, and find answer to our fundamental problems, if and only if their unconditional participation in national
 affairs becomes the norm. 
  From the above, it could be argued that our strategy is inefficient hence it has failed to improve the living standard of Gambians. Therefore the strategy must be revisited to ensure efficiency and an ever larger economic cake for all to enjoy. 
  Before embarking on any form of rectification program, the entire fabric of our society must be subjected to a microscopic analysis to identify all the ills and their causes. Once these inhibitions, that impede our development, are identified, a comprehensive planning, implementation and evaluation exercise will be placed in the hands of Gambians.
  The most important change to effect would be democracy. Power must be returned to the people. The people must be empowered to decide their own destiny. The government must be by the people and for the people. The main goal of the government must be to carryout the wishes and aspirations of Gambians regardless of tribal, political, societal, religious and ethnic background. 
  The three branches of government; the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary must be independent of one another. Each branch should be preoccupied with its constitutional requirements. The legislature should make laws that are designed to satisfy the wishes and aspirations of the Gambian people. The executive and the judiciary will be scrutinized by the national assembly. The national assembly will in turn be scrutinized by the electorates. The judiciary will interpret and enforce the constitution and statues enacted by the parliament. The executive will design and implement programs aimed at improving the lives of Gambian without discrimination of any form. This system would guarantee peoples rights and participation as enshrined in the would-be constitution and other laws of the Gambia without the slightest obstacle. I have a strong conviction that this state of affairs is achievable and that we are better-off to start the change process quickly and seriously. 
  There are three political camps campaigning in the Gambia to convince the electorates that their candidate is better qualified to lead the country for the next five years. These camps are all different in their philosophies. Among the three camps, only the APRC has been tested and has disappointedly failed the test. Their reckless strategies have not only failed but also worsen the living standard of Gambians. Since they have not only failed to accept the test results, but also blatantly determined to silence their critics. Therefore, the APRC should not be reelected. The choice should be between UDP lead alliance (ARC) and NADD.  
  Now, how do we choose between the ARC and NADD? Since ARC and NADD are both alternative means to our end, therefore, in order to choose one over the other, we must first of all define the end we want to achieve. Based on the above analysis, the fundamental problem facing Gambia is the poor system of governance. In order to improve the living condition of Gambian, our society must be transformed to promote citizen participation at all levels. This way the needs and aspirations of all Gambians will be the goal of the government. 
  The stated goals and objectives of the UDP lead alliance have not adequately addressed these fundamental issues. They undoubtedly want a regime change but not a system change. They have not only failed to remain in NADD to strive for a system change, but also failed to advance reasonable argument for their misguided decision. Therefore, the ARC is NOT the best alternative to APRC.
  This elimination left us with only NADD as a mean to our collective end. The main goal of NADD is to change the system of governance where power would be returned to people who would be empowered with all the available tools to make inform choices for the betterment of all. The NADD MOU, party manifesto and other programs have clearly spelt out a comprehensive strategy and adequate checks and balance systems that would ensure successful implementation.
  Based on the above analysis, I encourage all eligible voters to vote for NADD, and those in the Diaspora to encourage their families and friends to vote for NADD. I believe NADD is the way forward for Gambia.
  Muhammed Lamin Touray
   
   

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤