Culled from the Observer of 2 January 2001, is Jammeh's New Year Message to the
People of the Gambia. It is a lengthy message but it is worth reading and please
try to compare it with last year's and hope that he won't give one next year.

Prince.
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Jammeh's New Year message
The dawning of every new year, besides being a moment of joy, happiness and
thanksgiving to the Almighty Allah, our Creator, provides an ideal opportunity
to reflect on our stewardship to our communities, the nation and humanity in
general. It is with much delight therefore that I address you on the occasion of
the coming New Year 2001.
Last year, on this same occasion, together as a people and a nation, we ushered
in the Year 2000 with much hope and optimism. The peace, tranquility and
stability that have prevailed and indeed continue to prevail in our nation for
most of its existence stand out to be a rare blessing particularly in the
embattled sub-region in which we live.
We should appreciate and value this gift from The Almighty Allah and thank Him
for His bountiful blessings and protection of our beloved nation and all its
peoples. When I assumed the reins of power to lead this country to its rightful
destiny, I expressed my strong desire and resolve to lift up The Gambia to the
status of a highly developed high-income country. This commitment is enshrined
in our Vision 2020 blueprint which aims to transform The Gambia into a vibrant
and private sector-led economy.
Poverty eradication and increasing the capacity of the productive sectors of the
economy with greater inter-sectoral linkages especially with agriculture,
natural resources, trade, industry, and tourism are key to transforming The
Gambia into a highly developed middle-income country. In this regard, the
poverty reduction strategy of my government comes to play a fitting and key role
for any meaningful socio-economic development.
Agriculture Of equal importance, is my government's commitment to rid the
Gambian population of food insecurity - adequate nutrition being a fundamental
human right. In the same vein, attaining self-sufficiency in food production
will contribute immensely to poverty eradication and in this respect, the
provision of tractors and farming implements countrywide aiming at increasing
the productive capacity of our farmers have been found to be a useful
complement.
Our collaboration with the agricultural mission from the Republic of China has
resulted in increased production of rice especially within the peripheries of
Sapu and Kuntaur and with the introduction of new rice varieties, there is also
a significant increase in the production of rain-fed up-land rice. The Kuntaur
Rice Mill continues to provide processing and marketing outlets nationwide with
increasing demand for the mill's broken rice. Vegetable production and livestock
breeding are essential elements in our poverty reduction strategy.
My government will continue to provide assistance to women groups through small
loan schemes under Ibas and also various micro-credit schemes at grass roots
level. We shall continue to empower and integrate women into the mainstream of
our development agenda and decision-making processes in order to enrich our
common understanding of poverty and to minimise its negative impact, which the
women bear the most among the population.

EQUALITY:
The Mainstreaming Poverty and Gender Project, the Social Development Fund
Project, and the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Project together with the
efforts of our development partners including NGOs, are indeed a clear
manifestation of our collective endeavour towards poverty eradication.
Furthermore, sectoral policies and programmes have been designed to promote
human resource development, good governance and the mainstreaming of poverty and
gender issues into public sector resource management. The provision of social
services is now demand driven and matches adequately the needs of our
population.

HEALTH:
Health and Population issues command high priority in my government's agenda for
sustainable economic development. A comprehensive five-year Health Action Plan
1999-2003, currently under implementation, seeks to address the issues of family
health, disease control, health promotion and protection. The numbers of health
facilities and personnel have increased significantly during the last five
years. The number of Cuban doctors has now increased from 150 to 244 and their
contributions together with those of the technical assistance teams from Nigeria
and Egypt have significantly improved the health care delivery system in the
country.
The newly inaugurated School of Medicine at the University of The Gambia will
complement government's efforts in this direction as well. Let me also recognise
the contributions of the government of the Republic of China towards
facilitating capacity-building and institutional strengthening in our health
delivery system. A resultant effect of the improvements in our health delivery
system has been a decline in infant mortality, maternal mortality and fertility
rates.
Malaria, however, continues to be the leading cause of mortality in children
under five years. The Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) and
the Roll Back Malaria Initiative are but a few of the strategies aimed at
reducing infant mortality rate in the country. The National Immunisation Days
Against Polio have been the highlight for this year's health campaign and have
been successfully completed. The pandemic Aids virus continues to threaten the
world.
Our sub-Saharan region continues to bear the brunt of its impact. My government
has recently negotiated with the World Bank a rapid response project in order to
protect our vulnerable population against the disease and to trigger the rapid
response required to contain it. Our collaboration with UNDP, WHO, Unicef, EU,
MRC and other development partners continues to support my government's resolve
in the fight against Aids.
To further demonstrate my government's commitment, a National Aids Council and
Secretariat are being established and located under the Office of the President,
to execute the Rapid Response HIV/Aids Project. HIV/Aids is a reality that must
not only be taken seriously, but must be fought against and defeated. If we all
unite as a nation and fight against HIV/Aids, surely it can not only

POPULATION:
The rapid demographic changes in the country continue to be a cause for concern.
Our present population growth rate of 4.2 per cent of which immigration
constitutes 1.7 per cent is the highest in the subregion and this has negative
impact on effective delivery of health care and other social services in the
country.
The government will continue to strengthen and support the education and
communication activities of the Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA). We
will also continue to promote school enrolment for boys and girls in order to
have a well-educated population and in effect, ensure a brighter future for The
Gambia. Population growth also has its impact on the housing situation. Besides
limited land available in the Greater Banjul Area, the high costs of building
materials, which are mostly imported, pose a major challenge.
Various avenues are being explored to improve the housing situation in the
country. The Department of Community Development in collaboration with the
Commonwealth Secretariat is executing the Resource-Base Building Materials
Project to encourage the use of domestic resources in the building industry. In
a similar endeavour to alleviate the housing situation in the Greater Banjul
Area, the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation with the support of
the government and Shelter Afrique, is also making considerable progress on the
Brusubi Housing Project.

EDUCATION:
In the education sector, my government shall continue to increase the gross
enrolment ratio at basic education level and the transition rate by the year
2003. In the year 2000, about 237 classrooms have been built and completed
through Gamworks under IDA financing in Regions 3, 4 and 5 and an additional 81
classrooms are currently being constructed in order to reduce overcrowding.
The European Union under its rural development strategy is also funding the
construction of 207 classrooms in the country. Similarly, the Opec Fund is
financing the construction of two new upper basic schools in Abuko and
Banjulinding to cater for the increasing population of the Western Division.
Under the Third Education Sector Programme, with supplementary financing from
civil society, the Girls' Scholarship Trust Fund has been initiated in upper
basic and senior secondary schools in Regions 5 and 6.
This is intended to help needy children whose parents cannot afford to pay their
education thereby enhancing the education of every girl-child throughout The
Gambia. My government shall replicate the fund in other parts of the country.
The increase in school enrolment and provision of additional learning centres
must match the number of teachers available in the country.
The number of teachers trained at Higher Teacher Certificate level has increased
from 75 in 1998/1999 to 299 in the 1999/2000 academic year, and that of the
Primary Teachers Certificate level has increased from 125 to 231 during the same
period. With my government's commitment to empower the people through increased
access to high quality and relevant education, the overall budgetary allocation
for the education sector increased from D139.1 million in 1999 to D148.2 million
in year 2000.
The University Extension Programme has provided 120 graduates since its
inception in The Gambia. It is now full-fledged university and as part of our
national policy to develop human resources in the country, about 150
scholarships are provided annually to needy and deserving students at the
University of The Gambia. More emphasis shall be laid on Sciences and Medicine
in order to develop, rapidly, the productive capacity of the economy.
In view of its increasing role in our socio-economic development, the government
is increasingly committed to the development of the agricultural sector through
increased production, processing, marketing, food security and as a major source
of employment generation in the country. The Rural Finance and Community
Initiatives Project funded by the government and IFAD continues to register
significant progress especially in the area of food security and strengthening
the income of households through Village Savings and Credit Mobilisation Schemes
(Visacas).
The Special Programme on Food Security funded by the government and FAO,
together with the five-year Peri-Urban Smallholder Improvement Project funded by
the African Development Bank will be launched in the first quarter of 2001. The
draft Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy and Strategy for 1998 to 2002 has
been expanded to the year 2020 and will soon be submitted to cabinet for
approval. Within the context of south-south cooperation, a project between The
Gambia and Bangladesh was signed in November this year during the IDB annual
meeting.
The project aims to introduce low-cost technologies, increase horticultural and
poultry production, establish a viable irrigation and water management system
and enhance income generation especially in rural households. My government
remains committed to develop the required infrastructure as well as providing
tools and inputs to our deserving farming community. Efforts are also under way
for the introduction of biotechnology in the food processing industry.
We shall continue to allow the private sector to play a leading role in the
marketing of groundnuts. However, this should not be at the expense of the
farmers and the nation at large. Therefore, government will always welcome
credible investors for the purchasing, processing and marketing of groundnuts.

TRADE:
and investment My government is committed to the development of a vibrant
private sector through dialogue and the provision of not only fiscal incentives
but an enviable private sector enabling environment. The recently concluded
first-ever economic summit between the private sector and government, organised
by the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the
department of state for Trade, Industry and Employment has been hailed as a
resounding success.
The summit provided an opportunity for both government and the private sector to
review economic policies and programmes in order to reflect them effectively in
the Vision 2020 objectives and strategies. The enthusiasm and interest generated
during the summit necessitated an unequivocal commitment to hold it annually.
Government has recently approved the Investment Promotion and the Free Zones
Acts.
These acts are intended to provide the legislative framework for investment
promotion and free zone policies that have been developed. An autonomous
Investment Promotion and Free Zones Agency is to be established by early 2001.
The agency will be responsible for the marketing and promotion of investments
both in the zones and outside. The agency will also be responsible for the
management of the zones and providing a "one-stop shop" facility to investors.
Government recognises that as a nation striving to achieve middle-income status
by 2020, it must build an internationally competitive cluster around the main
strengths of its economy, notably: tourism, trade, industry and services.
Therefore, light manufacturing and assembly operations together with
export-oriented production will provide favourable investment opportunities in
the country.

COMMUNICATIONS:
Communication remains at the centre-piece of our socio-economic development.
Without efficient communication infrastructure, no meaningful sectoral linkages
can be attained. During the course of this year, Gamtel has undertaken expansion
works including the laying of fibre optic cables along the Kombo Coastal Roads
and Basse-Fatoto and also the upgrading of the Banjul-Basse fibre optic system
from medium to high capacity. The introduction of a GSM system, which is
expected to serve about 15,000 customers, is at an advanced stage.
My government will continue to liberalise the telecommunication sector to
enhance private sector participation that will further ensure competition and
availability of services country wide. The development of road networks linking
people to social facilities and markets is paramount to our socio-economic
development. My government has made significant investments in upgrading
existing roads and constructing new roads. The Kombo Coastal Road, the
Serrekunda Mandinaba Road, and Essau-Kerewan Road are some of the road
construction works being undertaken.
The Kerewan Bridge shall be completed by 2001 while the construction of
Fatoto-Koina road and regravelling of Basse-Yorobawal road, and the
reconstruction of Gugu bridge in Basse and its access road have started.
Regravelling of Lamin-Mandinary road is already under way. Government will
contribute its effort to secure funding for the construction of the
Kerewan-Farafenni road and also the Farefenni-Lamin Koto road. The EU has
provided a grant to conduct studies for upgrading the Barra-Amdallai road,
Basse-Sabi road, Trans-Gambia road, and the Mandinaba-Seleti road.
It is anticipated that the EU will also provide the necessary funds for the
implementation of these road works after their studies. The heavy dependence on
road transportation has prompted the need for utilisation of our natural and
beautiful river to provide transportation of goods and people and linking them
to coastal towns along the river. Government will continue to interest private
sector investments in the inland water services in order to stimulate economic
growth in these towns as well as to minimise over-dependence on the road
networks.
A Highway Authority that is expected to manage road funds and allow for private
sector participation in road maintenance will be put in place during the course
of the year 2001. With the obtaining of category one rating from the Federal
Aviation Authority of the United States, flights can now depart from The Gambia
to the USA. Government will continue its efforts to attract private investments
in the provision of airline services in the country. The Gambia International
Airlines through its recently concluded collaboration agreement with Air Namibia
now provides services in the sub-region and plans are afoot for further
increases in the air services sector.

ENERGY:
The provision of adequate and reliable electricity supply is a crucial issue for
my government. Nawec has been experiencing capacity shortages for a very long
time. It is in line with my personal commitment towards the development of the
power sector in the best interest of the country that I took the decision to
move the energy portfolio under Nawec to the Office of the President.
I am pleased to state that considerable progress has been made so far in the
acquisition of generating sets as additional capacities to Kotu Power Station.
These shall be installed in the course of the year 2001. Furthermore, with the
assistance of our development partners, the ADB and the IDB have approved The
Gambia's Rural

ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT:
Badea has also given their firm commitment to participating in the initiative.
Furthermore, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has pledged support to assist the
country in establishing a reliable and affordable power supply. It is our hope
that with these planned interventions, Nawec will better serve the nation in the
course of the year 2001 and beyond.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
The Development of our Youth is of paramount importance to my government and
this is being pursued through the implementation of relevant youth development
policies and programmes. The National Youth Service Scheme is one major
achievement and following the adoption of a new National Youth Policy, a
National Youth Council has been inaugurated, comprising youths from all walks of
life across the six administrative divisions.

ENVIRONMENT:
Environmental protection and sustainable development also continues to be a
global concern and it stands to reason why my government places emphasis on the
development of sound environmental protection policies.
In view of the successful implementation of the first Gambia Environment Action
Plan, a second plan was prepared and is currently under implementation to keep
in line with the ambition of sustainable development through effective
environmental protection policies.
The introduction of an environmental tax, I believe will contribute to raise
awareness about the need for each and every individual to assume personal
responsibility in protecting our environment and also to generate additional
funds to implement the environment-related policies and programmes effectively.
International relations
The Gambia's foreign policy and cooperation with other nation states has
steadily maintained its consistency. My government has invested resources in
mediation efforts to bring about peace in our sub-region. Notwithstanding its
withdrawal from the Casamance peace talks, which was mainly due to the need to
preserve our national and moral integrity, government is more than ever before
committed to regional integration and peace.
The Gambia continues to play a very active role in the Cills organisation, for
which we recently provided a new executive secretary. At the level of Ecowas,
the establishment of our regional parliament will soon become a reality,
following its recent inauguration and also plans are under way to institute a
second monetary zone. The Gambia has in addition pledged unreserved commitment
to the achievement of African unity at the last OAU summit in Lome (Togo).
All these and other laudable efforts are encouraging signs of our commitment
towards accelerating the task of integrating the African continent both
economically and politically and to move firmly towards the achievement of its
shared vision of a more integrated and united Africa. Once again, I entreat
every Gambian to strive to preserve the peace and tranquillity we enjoy in this
country for, the value of peace, we cannot quantify. Caring for one another as
brothers and sisters, loving one another is the only way to sustainable peace, a
sine qua non for progress and economic advancement.
In the same vein, I will enjoin other nationals from neighbouring countries to
uphold the same patience and tolerance extended to them by the people of the
Gambia and to contribute positively to the development of this country. By the
same token, I urge all our fellow Gambians living abroad to always remember
their dear motherland. Distance should not prevent them from contributing
positively their quota to the development of our beloved Gambia. I hereby enjoin
all nations of the world to strive for peace and reconciliation in the new year.
Without peace, love and tolerance, this world would continue to witness human
tragedies that would always thwart humankind's endeavours to rid this world of
hunger, disease, poverty and destitution. War is the most vicious evil that
mankind has ever undertaken. Let us rid this world of all wars and man-made
calamities and tragedies. Finally, I pray that the Almighty Allah continues to
provide us protection and guidance as we journey towards our destiny through the
year 2001. I wish you all a happy, peaceful, prosperous and morally enriching
new year!

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