POINT NEWS PAPER 08/10/01
Counting on the Spot Is Just A Mere Dream - President Jammeh
President Yahya Jammeh, has said that there wouldn't be any counting of votes on the spot in the coming Parliamentary and Presidential elections and the oppositions should not ever dreamt of such electoral practice. The Gambia Leader made this declaration on Saturday, before the state television, during an interview with a Senegalese journalist. "There is no provision in the constitution which says there should be counting on the spot. We have 800 polling stations. Can the Police provide Security for all the polling stations. Even without security consideration we are not going to do it. For 30 years there has not been counting on the spot. Said President Jammeh who maintained that there would be centralise counting explained that after the voting process the IEC will sealed all boxes and would be escorted by Security Personnel and party agents to counting stations.
Explaining how counting is done in this country President Jammeh, said after all votes are counted party agents who are present at the counting centres usually certify the results signed. "What is more free and fair than this? Asked President Jammeh pointing out that it would be difficult for the Police to contain an aggrieved crowd that is engaged in quarrelling and insulting. "We will need 8000 police for counting on the spot" said President Jammeh. Jammeh added that his opponents would always alleged electoral fraud when they are defeated and that the GRTS cannot provide 800 Cameras to cover the whole country on the polling day. He conceded that counting on the spot was done in Uganda but a similar situation would not be done in The Gambia, because according to him "other countries in the sub-region might want to emulate the Gambia if that happened and it might created problem for Africa on the issue of democracy, President Jammeh argued that there is no democracy in the world and he challenged any Western head of state, who is disputing his claim to a public debate.  
President Jammeh said he is prepared to engage anybody for debate to prove his assertion. According to President Jammeh the west who have been advocating for democracy had in the past enslaved Africans. He described the west as crazy. Commenting on his sad moments President Jammeh made reference to the Farafenni Army Barracks and Kartong armed attack, in which some soldiers were killed. The Gambian leader also cited the past foiled coup attempts. President Jammeh also made reference to the April 10 and 11 student unrest, claiming that the students were used to revolt against his government. He also highlighted the achievements recorded by his government especially in the areas of health, education and agriculture

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