Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 70/2005, 5 - 7 September, 2005
Editorial
THE TRANSFER OF VOTERS
THE FEARS, THE FACTS AND THE IMPLICATIONS
The issue of the transfer of voters’ cards has become the burning issue of the day as Gambia approaches the most important by-elections in its history. There are allegations that thousands have transferred illegally to be registered in Upper Saloum. The IEC Chairman claims that the transfers recorded for the Janjangbureh Administrative Area since the supplementary registration of voters up to the 29th August 2005, when transfers and replacements should cease pending by-elections, is 129.
FOROYAA is waiting for the list to publicize it for public notice and enable the people resident in the four constituencies where by-elections are to take place to effect scrutiny.
Of course what the IEC states will be the facts from its angle. The IEC however should not dismiss the fears of the NADD candidate for Upper Saloum. The fears are also backed by facts. The IEC Chairman may be shown photographs of vehicles which brought people en masse to Janjangbureh with the aim of getting them to transfer their cards to Upper Saloum. Whether the application to transfer such people were rejected or accepted will depend on the list being prepared by the IEC as the authentic list of transfers and replacements.
In our view, the IEC will allay fears if it publishes the following statistics: the total number of voters as of the 2002 National Assembly Elections, the increase in the number of voters as a result of supplementary registration of voters up to 2004 and the number of transfers since the supplementary registration in 2004 to the 29th August, 2005 when all activities to transfer voters ceased.
Secondly, the IEC should give a commitment that a person whose name has not appeared in the register of voters will not be allowed to vote. If such statistics is published and commitment made to prevent anyone whose name does not appear in the register of voters from voting the public can be fully assured of fair elections. There are misconceptions about transfers of voters which ought to be clarified. It is not true that a voter can transfer his or her card anywhere the person desires. The Elections Decree is very strict on what should be done regarding transfers. According to section 35 the voter must cease to be resident in the constituency in which he\she is registered as a voter and must be resident in the constituency in whose register he\she wants his\her name to be transferred. The IEC has to conduct inquiries to satisfy itself that the person has actually ceased to be resident where he\she was registered and is now resident in the constituency where he\she wants his\her
voting card to be transferred.
Lastly, the Gambian people are anxiously waiting for the list. Section 37 has given the content of the list.
It should contain the names of all those who are transferred from the other constituency to any of the constituency where a by-election is taking place.
The list should contain the constituencies from which and to which the voters have been transferred.
In short, the list should show the constituency, voting card number, name, address and occupation of voters.
All Gambians should see themselves as the watchpersons of the electoral process and report any anomaly to the stakeholders and the press. FOROYAA has been receiving information that some people are going round asking voters for their voters’ cards. No Gambian is empowered to ask any Gambian for his\her voter’s card. Those who go about purchasing voters’ cards are engaged in a criminal act which can cost them D25,000 or 5 years imprisonment as well as deprivation of his\her right to vote or hold public office for a period of ten years.
The IEC should educate the voters to know the implications of going from compound to compound to buy and seize voters’ cards. If few people are trapped and used as examples the practice will stop. Young people with knowledge of the law should caution their parents who may be used to participate in corrupt electoral practices.
LETTER TO THE IEC
On The Illegal Transfer Of Voters And The Process Of Voting Without One’s Name Appearing On The Register Of Voters
A person whose responsibility is to exercise direction and control over an electoral system must be informed by law and experience. To avoid future mistakes it is wise and proper to draw lessons from the past.
First and foremost, it is important to explain why transfer of voters must be subjected to residential qualifications in the system of representation which obtains in The Gambia. In this vein, it is significant to point out that, there are clear distinctions between a representative system based on proportional representation and one based on constituencies.
In the case of proportional representation where parties present a list of their candidates on the basis of order of preference of acquiring seats in the National Assembly is based on the percentage of the popular vote the parties acquire. The residential qualifications of voters is immaterial.
On the other hand, where representation is based on a constituency system residential qualification is necessary to maintain proportionate representation of equal number of inhabitants of different constituencies. Under normal circumstances the constituency boundaries are demarcated to ensure equal representation for equal number of inhabitants. Such a system does not envisage massive movement of people from one constituency to another. To ensure respect for the constituency boundaries as means to ensure that there is equality in representation and that no party is deprived of a competitive edge by a massive shift of a voting population, residential qualifications are established for being registered as a voter and for transferring one\s vote from one constituency to another. Under Gambian law, section 36 of the Elections Decree has made it categorically clear that one can only transfer one’s voting card if one ceases to be resident in the constituency in which one is registered as a
voter and applies to transfer his\her name to the register of the constituency in which he has now become resident. The IEC therefore has to make two enquiries, to effect a transfer. It must establish that the applicant has ceased to be resident in the constituency in which he\she is registered and that he\she is now resident in the constituency where he\she wishes to transfer. Once satisfactory enquiries are made and the claims of the applicant validating transfer could then take place. This is how matters stand on the issue of transfer. The right to transfer is determined by residential qualification and not the whims of the voter.
Secondly, it is necessary to ensure that the voting system is not corrupted because of common sense understanding of the law governing elections. This is why in some elections in the past, people whose names did not appear in the register of voters were allowed to vote. This practice constituted a gross violation of the election laws and should have been the subject of an election petition.
The Elections Decree has made it clear that the persons who should vote are those whose names are entered in a register of voters.
The voting card provides identification of the person whose name appears in the register of voters. There is no room for the IEC to allow anyone to vote whose name is not in the register of voters.
Section 66 of the Elections Decree states: “The presiding officer, after satisfying himself that the name of a voter is in the copy of the part of the register of voters containing the names of the voters allotted to the polling station, shall subject to subsection (2), deliver a ballot token to the voter.”
Subsection (2) deals with the examination of the voter’s card just to ensure that the person with the card is the one whose name appears in a register of voters.
Subsection (5) adds: “Immediately before delivering a ballot token to a voter, the presiding officer shall (a) make a mark against the name of the voter on his copy of the register of voters to denote that such voter has received a ballot token and shall sign and date the reverse of the voter’s card; and (b) ensure that the voter’s thumb or other finger is marked with an indelible ink as an indication that the voter has voted.”
It is therefore abundantly clear that only a person whose name appears in the register of voters should vote.
The reason for this is simple. Registration of voters is a process which culminates with the preparation of a master register and its supplementary registers.
First and foremost, the person’s claim to be registered must be scrutinized. Once the registering officer is satisfied with the answers of the claimant his\her name has to be entered in a list of voters.
Section 21 further indicates: “Every claimant whose name is entered in the register of voters shall be issued a voting card which shall be in the form prescribed in Form 4 Schedule III and a counterfoil shall be prepared in accordance with Form 3 of the same Schedule….”in short, entitlement to voter’s card is subject to one’s name being entered in a register of voters.
Of course there may be omissions of the names of voters in a list after registration. Some may also be registered who are not entitled to be included. This is precisely why the list is subject to scrutiny.
Section 22(1) states: “A person who has made a claim to be registered as a voter and whose has been omitted from any list of voters…. shall within fourteen days from the date of publication of the list, appeal to the appropriate registering officer to have his name inserted…”
Furthermore, the registering officer shall as soon as practicable after the period of fourteen days specified in subsection (1) prepare and publish the list of all appeals.”
Section 24 indicates: “As soon as may be practicable after the lists mentioned are published , the Chief Justice shall, on the advice of the Commission, appoint a magistrate of the first class (a) to hold a court called a revising court; and (b) to hear and decide on appeals and objections.”
According to section 26, it is the duty of the revising court to correct any apparent errors or mistakes and reinstate the name of any person inadvertently omitted from the list.”
Once this exercise is completed and the original list is signed by the magistrate of a revising court or the Registering Officer where no magistrate had been appointed, such list becomes the master register or head register. Supplementary registration of voters also go through the same process both registers are collectively referred to as a register of voters. The voting cards issued to claimants are numbered serially to prevent any registration outside the legally established period for registration of voters.
In our view, there is no room for a person to appear on the day of voting with a voting card and be allowed to vote when one’s name does not appear in a register of voters.
What can be done is for such a case to be raised in court in pursuit of an election petition. The validity of an election victory could be inquired into by the courts.
Hence to avoid any confusion, it is necessary for the IEC to adhere to the letter and spirit of the Elections Decree and to take a firm position in not allowing any person to vote if one’s name does not appear in any register of voters.
For your information people are going about asking for the voting cards of voters. The IEC should issue public notices to tell the people that no one has been authorized to take the voting cards of anyone. Such a practice is illegal for amounts to impersonation of IEC officials.
While anticipating your due consideration of our concerns,
We remain
Yours in the service of the nation
Halifa Sallah
For NADD Executive Committee
THE EFFECT OF THE BORDER CLOSURE
The unilateral border closure imposed by the Senegalese Authorities has a boomerang effect on the residents of the Gambia and Senegal. The border closure which came like a thunderbolt, came on the face of the decision of the Gambia Ports Authority to increase Ferry Tariffs by hundred percent.
On Friday morning, our reporter went to Amdalaye and Karang, the two settlements at the frontier bordering the two countries. Our reporter saw a fleet of eight commercial vehicles locally known as “Romorka” parked few metres away from the Amdalaye Police Post. The said vehicles are set for Senegal, but they have not been allowed to enter into Senegal. Our reporter also managed to see some “Romarkas” and fuel trailers on the Senegalese side of the border. The said vehicles carrying goods stood about two hundred metres away from the Senegalese customs post. The Senegalese custom officials were not engaged in any work. Our reporter discovered that goods were not allowed to enter Senegal.
The commercial motor cycle (Bebe) drivers in Karang complained that their earnings have dropped significantly following the closure of the border. A Senegalese trader who spoke to this reporter said the border impasse is affecting her business seriously. She said she has not been in a position to purchase goods in the Gambia and transport it to Senegal. She said it is essential for the two heads of state to break the deadlock.
Ousainou Bayo, a “cocksorr” at Amdalaye said, “I don’t know why they closed the border. Vehicles and goods are not allowed to enter Senegal. Yesterday, they (Senegalese) allowed the private commercial vehicles to enter Senegal. The number of travellers who travel between the two countries have reduced, and this has affected us (drivers) financially. Goods are not allowed to enter Senegal. We are in a dilemma.”
Another cocksorr at Amdalaye said, “Business in this area is seriously affected. People are scared to travel. The people of the two countries are fed up with the situation. The two heads of state should discuss and solve the problem amicably. People are really suffering.”
Gambian custom officials at Amdalaye, intimated that petty traders from Senegal are still coming to the Gambia, but big traders are not allowed entry to the Gambia with their goods by the Senegalese Authorities at Karang. They (custom officials) pointed out that their counterparts at Karang are not allowing goods to enter Senegal. However, the closure is directed at goods and commercial vehicles, people travelling to Senegal without goods are not affected by the blockade.
It is clear that vendors on both sides of the border are affected. Few money dealers were seen at Karang. They were not hustling travellers, something which runs contrary to their usual practice.
APRC’s Trickery Exposed
Seedy Barrow, a sympathiser of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development in Bundung Borehole, has made a startling revelation at a ward meeting organised by the sympathisers of the aforesaid party.
Speaking at a NADD meeting in Bundung Borehole, Barrow the purported Coach of Rico Football Club, told his party sympathisers that APRC stalwarts in the area have urged them to boycott the football tournament that is sponsored by Halifa Sallah and organised by the Tonya Kaffo Youth group. He said the APRC stalwarts in the area have promised to give youths fifty thousand dalasis and a trophy in return if they boycott the said tournament. He pointed out that the youths of Bundung Borehole have told the APRC mobilizers that they are not interested in their proposed tournament nor are they interested in their (APRC) money. Going further, the young man who was eloquent in speech, said the youths of Bundung Borehole who are participating in the ongoing tournament, have told the APRC mobilizers that no one can induce them with money to boycott the tournament. According to Barrow, the youths of the area have told, the APRC mobilizers that it is Halifa Sallah who has their interest at heart
and not the ruling APRC government. Barrow noted that the youths have told the APRC mobilizers that the proposed tournament they want to organise is to lure them (youths) to vote for the APRC candidate. Barrow said the youths have asked the APRC mobilizers to explain why they want to sponsor a football tournament few weeks before the by elections.
On Sunday afternoon, one Moriba Suso, a member of Tonya Kaffo (the group that is coordinating the football tournament in Bundung Borehole) walked into the Foroyaa Office and dwelt on the tricks employed by some APRC mobilizers in Bundung Borehole. Moriba said some APRC sympathisers are concocting stories and connecting them to the tournament sponsored by Halifa Sallah.
“They are going round telling people that Halifa Sallah is using the football tournament to gain cheap popularity. This claim is far from the truth. Infact Halifa is not that type of person. He does not look for cheap popularity. As a matter of fact, when we went there and told him that we want him to sponsor the tournament, he said if it is for political purpose, he is not interested in it. But if it is for development purpose, then he will associate himself with it. This is what transpired.” He remarked.
Mr. Suso said they (Youths of Borehole) will vote for Halifa Sallah because he is the person who have the youths of Serrekunda Central at heart. He said the goal posts at the football field where the tournament is currently staged were uprooted and destroyed by saboteurs. He said this action is aim at hindering the ongoing tournament.
In a related development, Mr. Suso said, some APRC sympathisers in Bundung Borehole are entering compounds and demanding voters to surrender their voting cards to them.
“They are entering compounds telling people that they (APRC mobilizers) need their voting cards so that they will give them sugar during the month of Ramadan. They are asking people to handover their voting cards to them. They have a sinister motive. They want to stop the people they suspect to be NADD sympathisers from voting. If they don’t desist from this practice, I will expose them. Some of them have collected moneys from yard owners in the area and promised them that they will bring pipe borne water in the area. I am giving them time, but if they fail to honour their promise, I will expose them.” Moriba Suso remarked.
POLITICAL PARTIES MEET
The leaders of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), being the governing party in The Gambia, and the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) and other political parties, met ON Friday, 2 September at the Kairaba Hotel in The Gambia at the invitation of General Abdulsalami A Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria and Special Envoy of the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral. The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (lEC) was present during the discussions.
The parties agreed in the higher interest of The Gambia, to work constructively towards the consolidation of democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance in The Gambia.
They further agreed in this context to work positively and cooperatively towards the holding of transparent and credible elections.
The parties agreed to establish an Inter-Party Committee, comprising representatives of political parties, as a forum for dialogue and cooperation.
They agreed that the Inter-Party Committee shall initially comprise five representatives each from the APRC and the NADD and one each from the National Convention Party (NCP) and the Gambian Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP).
The political parties also agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding and a Code of Conduct to guide their activities in general.
The Memorandum of Understanding and the Code of Conduct shall be signed by the political parties at the first meeting of the Inter-Party Committee to be convened shortly by the Chairman of the IEC.
“PRESIDENT JAMMEH CAMPAIGNS
FOR SALLAH”- OJ
“Jammeh has already campaigned for the representative of Serrekunda central when he sat before the National TV and vehemently announced that Sallah makes a lot of noise in the National Assembly and he has disturbed his MPs. It is President Jammeh who said he would try by all means to see to it that Halifa loses his seat in the National Assembly.” This among other statements was made by Mr. Omar Jallow, alias O.J., when he was addressing a capacity crowd at a NADD spot meeting at Serrekunda Crab Island on Thursday 31st August 2005.
Omar Jallow or O.J. pointed out that Jammeh wants insufficiency as he prefers NAMs whom he would control as his personal property. “This clearly manifested that Halifa and his colleagues are the most competent NAMs who challenged the dictators of this government. He wants NAMs whose mouth are padlocked and Sallah cannot be one because he’s a NAM of truth and always fight for social justice,” he stressed.
While addressing the community meeting in Serrekunda Crab Island, O.J. indicated that Gambians must be proud of the four opposition representatives, as they are the most competent and outspoken members in the National Assembly, noting that the former NAM for Serrekunda central, is a member of the Pan African Parliament whose deeds and efforts is well known not only in Africa, but across the world at large. He dilated on issues and activities that Mr. Sallah is involved and engaged in.
Addressing the women, Mrs. Amie Sillah Sarr, a gender activist concurred that the progress of any society is determined by the condition of its women. “Society cannot be free from hardship if our women are not free,” she emphasized.
“As far as our society is concerned men are our husbands, brothers, uncles and heads of families. As women we should see them as partners in development. Therefore, we must work collectively,” adding that a woman’s merit begins with an awareness of her role and worth in society.
“We must be conscious of the fact that APRC is a self-centered government who use women as political pawns. We must refuse and say no to this,” said the gender activists. She advised women to avoid misunderstandings between male counterparts that could lead to divisions. She however, urged women not to give out their ‘diamonds’ in exchange for ‘sweets’ “Sweets she said is the ‘Asobi’, bags of rice, oil etc and bribing for your votes. And your ‘diamonds’ she emphasized are Hamat Bah, Sidia Jatta, Kemeseng Jammeh and Halifa Sallah. These four candidates who are aspiring for seats in their constituencies are the only eloquent speakers who debate on fundamental issues based on truth, without fear.”
She said women should know that the only way to save them from the present situation of the country is NADD, which ensures the liberty and empowerment of women. She challenged women not to be left behind as they are the salt of the earth.
Ya Mariama Camara, a community elder of the area expressed her concern by saying that more action is needed as the Jammeh regime only brought hardship to the people of this country. She said Gambia can only be developed by Gambians and therefore, the citizens should have informed choices so as to choose what is good for them.
She dilated on unemployment as the plight of young people. She revealed that she has witnessed two schools in the Gambia. The two schools are the first and the second Republic schools of the Gambia. She said the second Republic under the APRC government has worsened the state of corruption and bad governance in the country.
She pointed out that Gambian women are hardworking but that despite this they do not benefit from their sweats because of the high cost of duties levied on their produce.
She said that even bonga; the cheapest fish that used to be dished out freely is now beyond the reach of the ordinary Gambian. She urged women to wisely cast their votes for the right candidates. At this juncture, many people took out their voters’ cards in support of Sallah and NADD.
However, different speakers maintained that the APRC government cannot bring meaningful development in the country as they have already betrayed the trust of Gambians. They revealed that they would not be blind folded by the ruling party as they have seen the light and that’s the NADD leadership. Many youths said that the APRC is shocked by the establishment of NADD and that NADD is here to stay.
“We don’t need a government that calls its citizens donkeys, only to come and bribe them for their votes,” they remarked. “We are not fools and we’ll not allow any President to ride on us like a horse. The APRC government must learn to respect people’s rights. The President cannot be insulting and intimidating us all the time and expect us to vote for him during elections. Those days are gone,” they opined.
They however, posited that there’s a high crime rate among young people, due to unemployment, which breeds laziness and idleness.”
Halifa Sallah, the NADD candidate for Serrekunda central, informed the gathering that there are two types of hardship i.e., the animal suffering and human suffering; that for animals suffering is continuous forever, because they leave the world as they found it whilst for human beings they use knowledge to transform nature and have the capacity to utilize their brains to build houses, provide shelter and other necessities for ourselves.”
He said that this is why the human being is referred to as a supreme being and therefore everyone must realize his or her worth as a human being in a society.
He added that citizenship is a voice and power and that one should be able to make a choice without fear of his fellow citizens, who has equal rights as him or her. He each citizen should ensure that his or her liberty and rights are protected by the government, noting that this can be achieved by knowing that “Each one of you is an embodiment of dignity and self worth. You must understand you\re as important as the president. Has one vote just like every one of you,” he said. This, he said should be noted.
Mr. Sallah informed the gathering that the country is collectively owned by the every citizen and that they have the final say at every election, slated every five years as demanded by the constitution.
LETTER TO SOS BALA GARBA JAHUMPA
I was dumbfounded when I read your comments against Honourable Halifa Sallah. I am disappointed that you could make such a statement to the people of this nation. What this nation deserves are honourable men and women who avoid dirty politics and engage in clean politics. We should always call a spade a spade and avoid malice and distortion.
SoS Jahumpa, you claim that Halifa Sallah is not educated and has nothing good for this country. Be rest assured that the politics of deception no longer has a place in the 21st century. You’ve come too late to fool us because we are already enlightened by decent people like Halifa Sallah. Gambians do not expect technocrats like you to use their position to enlighten us and tell us the truth. You make yourself a laughing stock because 95% of Gambian youths know the capabilities of Halifa Sallah. Trying to distort what he says or is engaged in will only afford him the opportunity to further clarify matters. If Halifa Sallah is in control of our financial resources one will see a big difference in terms of development in our country.
You cannot fool us because we know what comes from you. As the Secretary of State for Works and Construction, you failed to tell Gambians that all the infrastructural development that you and your cabinet boast of are derived from loans which have not been utilised to generate income.
Please Sir, go round and look at the condition of the recently constructed roads. Mr. Action Man, let’s take the Bundung Highway as an example. Think of the amount of money spent on the construction of the road compared to the lifespan of the road. It is only your government that spends millions of dalasis on projects that do not commensurate with their duration.
I believe that you have important things to work on that could help the entire nation rather use your position to betray your own conscience. Your comments tell much about you and the system in which you are operating. Mr. Action man kindly look at the situation at the Sandika Market close to the Serrekunda Health Centre. Will you deny that Halifa Sallah pledged D60, 000 for renovation at the Sandika? You do not seem to care because the offer comes from a member of the opposition.
Who ever knows the man will tell you that he does not engage in dirty politics to the extent of character assassination. Halifa Sallah is a role model for decent politicians. Take a stroll to any school in The Gambia and disgrace yourself by telling them that Halifa does nothing good for this country. Ask the president why he desperately wanted Halifa Sallah to join his cabinet long before you even came to his mind. You can fool some people for sometime but not all the people all the time, Mr. Jahumpa.
Your desperate move to unseat Halifa Sallah should not tantamount to politics of insults, character assassination, threat and intimidation. Look at the way you address your audience at APRC rallies. Your body language and words tends to encourage violence among the youth. But Shakespeare once said: The cloth you wear and the food you eat do not define you. It is the things that come out of you.” Politics is decent only if mature people don’t engage in politics of deception.
Let me remind you that the fact that your party (APRC) is so much concerned about Halifa Sallah shows that he deserves to be in the National Assembly. Why were you so much concerned about Halifa Sallah and Hamat Bah? Gambians are aware of their contributions in the National Assembly. Now is the time I stand so much stronger behind Halifa than ever before because you know his significance in the National Assembly.
If we leave personal interest and dirty politics aside, and see nothing but The Gambia, then one will realise “only shortsighted and unpatriotic citizens whose ideas and policies are outdated and advocate for retrogression will do anything to unseat Halifa Sallah. Serrekunda Central is seriously waiting for the by-elections to teach you and your party a lesson that decent sons and daughters of our soil who are always at the forefront of national issues are put in their right places because they are treasured by the people for life.
So in your quest to please your master, don’t forget the number of secretaries of state who were in the same position before your appointment. I am sure one day your master’s electric broom will sweep you to the dustbin of history because he has no friend no matter what you do for him. You are all desperate and shaky because you know what will happen if you fail to unseat the opposition members in the September by-elections.
I strongly believe that no political party owns the country. The Gambia belongs to all of us and due to its small size we almost know each other.
Many will continue to rally behind Halifa Sallah no matter who speaks negatively against him. He has foresight, does not speculate and is development orient4ed. He is humble, down to earth and has time for people’s concerns. I’m sure you owe an apology to Halifa Sallah.
I am sorry if this letter has caused so much pain on you but the fact of the matter is that you are really the one who owes an apology to the nation, particularly the people of Serrekunda Central. It is not too late to repent and ask for forgiveness. After all, you are human. Good day.
Morro B. Tunkara, Youth Secretary, Tallinding
BY-ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED
The independent Electoral Commission issued a press release announcing that it will conduct will conduct by-elections for the Serrekunda Central, Jarra West, Upper Saloum and Wuli West Constituencies on Thursday, 29th September 2005.
It has further stated that nomination of candidates for the said elections will be received on Monday 12th September 2005 between the hours of 8 o’clock in the fore noon and 4 o’clock in the after noon at the IEC Regional Offices in Kanifing, Mansakonko, Janjanbureh and Basse respectively.
Nomination papers and regulations may be collected from any of the aforementioned IEC offices from Thursday, 1st September 2005.
IEC CODE OF CONDUCT
The INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION has developed a Code of Conduct for Commission Members which it has published. The full text of the Code of Conduct is as follows:
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COMMISSION MEMBERS
Members of the Electoral Commission must, in the eyes of the public. Command a great deal of respect and have unblemished reputation. In order words, they must be GOOD CITIZENS and not involved in questionable activities. It is therefore essential that:
1. Commission Members are accountable and their activities transparent.
2. Commission members must adhere to their terms of reference and the tasks they had been charged with.
3. Commission members must consider the protection of the interest of civil society as the underlying factor in their actions.
4. Commission members are bound by the principle of impartiality in the conduct of their duties, and in doing so; they must maintain a national outlook and work towards promoting national unity and harmony..
5. Commission members must not show support for or become a member of any political party or trade union or even become a political sympathiser publicly.
6. Commission members must not be seen to share political views with people,
i.e., they should not discuss politics in public.
7. Commission members must refrain from taking part in political rallies and demonstrations.
8. Commission members must not be political aspirants i.e.. They cannot pose as candidates in elections.
9. Commission members must not accept any gift in cash or from any political party or candidate in their drive to ensure free and fair elections.
10. Commission members must set themselves against all forms of religious or ethnic bias and prejudices and should not be involved in ethnic-related political organisations.
11. Commission members must respect the OATH and observe complete secrecy, i.e., they must not reveal any information relevant to their work to the public or the press without due authority.
12. Commission members must not become agents or be dictated to by any government, be it national or foreign.
13. Commission members must execute their functions without fear or favour, ill will or contempt.
14. Commission members must show a high sense of dedication and purposefulness in their work and in doing so, be guided by their conscience and sense of responsibility.
15. Commission members must uphold high moral standards and avoid any behaviour that would bring the commission’s name into disrepute during the course of executing their duties.
16. Commission members’ stock of trade must be competence, uprightness, and patriotism.
17. Commission members must strive for complete autonomy from the government and the public and must feel empowered to exercise this independence as and when necessary and be prepared to sue and be sued for offences committed against them and vice-versa.
Replacement and Transfer Figures
The official figures of the number of transfers and replacements effected up to 29th August 2005 throughout the country have been made available by the Independent Electoral Commission. As can be seen in the table below, these figures are much lower and contrary to the assertions being made by Mr. Hamat Bah of massive voter transfers from other constituencies to Upper Saloum Constituency. Some of the reports have indicated the activities of minibuses and trucks transporting people from other parts of the country to Janjangbureh IEC office for the purpose of transferring voters.
FOROYAA is now waiting for the list containing the full names or identity of all those who have effected these transfers and replacements since the last supplementary registration which the IEC intends to publish on Monday, 5th September.
Below are the figures made available by the IEC:
ADMINISTRATIVE AREA REPLACEMENTS TRANSFERS
BASSE 173 14
BANJUL 93 55
KEREWAN 26 4
BRIKAMA 91 25
JANJANGBUREH 249 129
MANSAKONKO 41 NIL
KANIFING 60 36
TOTAL 493 259
NADD’S KEMESENG JAMMEH FAULTS PRESIDENT JAMMEH”S ADMINISTRATION
Kemeseng Jammeh, the prospective candidate for the National Alliance for Democracy and Development who is aspiring for the Jarra West seat in the forthcoming by-elections slated for the 29th September 2005, has told his party sympathizers that the present economic hardship that is confronting Gambians in not instituted by divine authority.
Mr. Jammeh said that that the economic hardship that is tormenting Gambians is a “man made problem| caused by President Jammeh’s mismanagement of the country’s economy.
The former National Assembly member for Jarra West made these remarks at a ward meeting in Tallinding organized by his party’s stalwarts. In his speech, Kemeseng stated that the time the people of Serrekunda central elected Mr. Halifa Sallah into office in 2002, things were a bit better, but presently, the country’s economy has gone from bad to worse. He told his party sympathizers that the by-elections should be taken seriously by the electorate. He threw light on the significance of the forthcoming by-elections.
Mr. Jammeh gave a brief account of how President Yahya Jammeh and his colleagues in the defunct AFPRC took power. According to Kemeseng, President Jammeh and his colleagues had promised to stamp out official corruption in the country when they seized power in 1994, but they have reneged on their promises. Kemeseng further stated that President Jammeh and his colleagues are the people who have less regard for democracy. Supporting his claim, Kemeseng pointed out that President Jammeh and his colleagues had informed Gambians that President Jawara had overstayed in office and that no one will rule this country for more than two terms.
Going further, the former National Assembly member for Jarra West pointed out that President Jammeh had constituted a National Consultative committee which consulted Gambians on issues regarding the content of the constitution. According to Kemeseng, majority of Gambians expressed their wish to have a two term limit to the presidency. He said this proposal for a term limit was abrogated by President Jammeh and his colleagues in the final draft of the constitution. He said President Jammeh and his colleagues did ask people to express their views on what they want to be in the constitution, but they had ulterior motives at the time.
Continuing, Kemeseng Jammeh gave a vivid picture of how President Jammeh has been undermining democracy and good governance in this country. He said it was a requirement from the constitution for Seyfolu and Alkalolu to be elected into office by the electorate.
According to Mr. Jammeh, these sacrosanct provisions of the constitution were amended by President Jammeh and his APRC party. He noted that these salient provisions have been replaced with provisions that gave President Jammeh power to appoint and sack chiefs, whilst giving the local government Secretary of State the power to appoint and fine Alkalolu, he said President Jammeh is constantly amending laws that are aimed at consolidating democracy in the Gambia.
“We are making plans to remove President Jammeh and we will take him out. If we don’t remove him, he will bring doom in this country, because he is not interested in good governance” he remarked.
Kemeseng went further to fault the sacking of the former Chairpersons of the Independent Electoral Commission, namely Gabriel Roberts and Bishop Tilewa Johnson. According to him, the sacking of the two former chairpersons of the commission is unconstitutional, because a panel constituting a judge should probe any member of the commission before he or she is removed from office. He said it is the panel’s findings and recommendations that will determine whether the person investigated should be removed from office. He noted that in the two cases involving Bishop Johnson and Gabriel Roberts, no panel was set by President Jammeh.
“He (President Jammeh) thrives on power and anyone who thrives on power will not nurture peace in this country,” Kemeseng Jammeh remarked.
Kemeseng Jammeh said The Gambia has declined to sign the memorandum of Understanding which ensures the African heads of states who act undemocratically are assessed by the African Peer Review Mechanism. Mr. Jammeh noted that President Jammeh is not interested in good governance and that is why he failed to sign the document.
He further pointed out that twenty two heads of states in the sub region including Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Tumani Touray of Mali and Abdoulie Wade of Senegal have signed the said document.
“We (Gambia) run out of luck. Tony Blair was campaigning for the developed countries to help the underdeveloped countries economically. He wanted the debts of the third world countries to be cancelled, because most of the countries could not service their debts. Our (Gambia) debt stands at twenty two billion dalasis and we will spend one billion and five hundred million servicing our debt this year. Tony Blair wanted to help the poor countries, but there were criterion for eligibility which had to be met by the poor countries,” Kemeseng remarked.
According to Kemeseng Jammeh, upholding the rule of law, nurturing democratic principles and ideals, stamping out corruption and the promotion of human rights were some of the issues that the beneficiaries were to meet in order to benefit from the debt relief package.
He however, pointed that the Gambia did not meet the criterion set aside by the benefactors and the, that is why it did not benefit from the debt relief.
Mr. Jammeh went further to fault the manner in which President Jammeh intends to fight official corruption in the country. According to him, the present Secretary of State for Agriculture found liable by the commission of inquiry that was presided over by Justice Paul and was therein asked to pay a certain amount by the commission. According to Kemeseng, instead of allowing the courts to decide on the issue before them, President Jammeh went and re-appointed Yankuba Touray to the position of Secretary of State for Agriculture. Kemeseng concluded by urging electorate to vote in Halifa Sallah in the forthcoming by-election. He said NADD will rectify wrongs done by the President Jammeh’s administration.
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