Well, if this document was plagiarized as alleged, then aside from it being
a clear indication of the UDP/NRP alliance's lack of a solid agenda for the
development of the country should they come into power, it is also a gross
embarassment for our country.
Jabou Joh
In a message dated 9/5/2006 2:50:39 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Here is the correct link. He missed out on the .pdf extension. It's an adobe
doc...
http://www.imf.org/external/np/prsp/2002/gmb/01/043002.pdf
Regards
Pa Morro
>From: "Yusupha Jow" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [>-<] FWD: THE ALLIANCE for REGIME CHANGE POLICY PROPOSALS:
>Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 11:25:18 -0700
>
>Joe:
>First, I'd like to point out that at the moment these are only allegations.
>Once we get more information from Musa Sana (such as a working link to
>relevant IMF page), we should be in a better position to determine if this
>is a case of plagiarism or not.
>
>I see no major problems with the UDP/NRP using the IMF/UN documents as the
>basis for their development program IF they give proper credits to their
>source(s). The practice of citing sources is common in academia. However,
>the consequences are dire if one does not do this.
>
>I think the main issue with what they've been accused of was touched upon
>by
>Egu, which is it would show the UDP/NRP may lack a solid or complete
>agenda as it pertains to plans for the development of The Gambia -- a
>disturbing development.
>
>That being said, I'd take the UDP/NRP alliance any day over the APRC!
>
>Thanks!
>Yusupha
>
>On 9/5/06, Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>[ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "Joe Sambou" <
>>[log in to unmask]> ]
>>
>>
>>Folks, we have attacked folks here for plagiarism, yet, we are playing
>>dead
>>with this apparent deception. Why are Gambians mute on this issue? Why
>>would we even attempt to rationalize this criminal act? The UDP/NRP had
>>years to have a policy document and Gambians have been asking them for one
>>for years and just a few days ago, Chris Sukuna was the latest request.
>>They shamelessly lifted a document from another and called it their own
>>and
>>what do we see, folks trying to provide cover for this apparent cheating.
>>Now, let's say the APRC had done that, we would be all over them. If it
>>were NADD, this place would be uncontrollable. Why is it different for
>>the
>>UDP/NRP? Is this the kind of Gambia were are trying to foster, where we
>>dwell on hypocrisy?
>>
>>Karamba, that doctored this document, should be here to explain his
>>behavior
>>to this body. I mentioned him because he forwarded this same document to
>>the MGAC as the UDP/NRP policy and he claimed he had spent hours
>>summarizing
>>it, even, to shorten it for the moderator at the conference to read it to
>>the audience. We called him several times during the conference to
>>consult
>>him on the pliagiarism charge regarding the document, but we did not get a
>>response. This is academic dishonesty and laziness folks and we cannot
>>cover it or excuse it. Hey, smooth talking will not excuse this criminal
>>act and none is not going to dumb us down. This is a low hanging fruit
>>and
>>if we cannot be honest about this one, I wonder what we would be honest
>>about. If the UDP/NRP with all their claimed brain power have to steal a
>>document and called it their own, knowing that there is technology that
>>can
>>expose them, I say desperation has set in. For one has to be really
>>desperate to risk this humiliation. They had years to come up with a
>>document, but alas. Now we understand why they signed the NADD MOU and
>>later on called it a mistake or what ever. If they can cheat in this
>>fashion, what else can they cheat on? Folks, this is a travesty,
>>especially
>>for a party that wish to lead us.
>>
>>Chi Jaama
>>
>>Joe
>>
>>
>> >From: "Kejau Touray" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>> >To: [log in to unmask]
>> >Subject: RE: [>-<] FWD: THE ALLIANCE for REGIME CHANGE POLICY PROPOSALS:
>> >Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:38:05 +0100
>> >
>> >[ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "Kejau Touray"
>> ><[log in to unmask]> ]
>> >
>> >
>> >Hello Musa,
>> >Nowadays everyone does some plagiarism, from Tony Blair ( on weapons of
>> >mass destruction report), and unlike students, nobody can penalise them,
>> >only if breach the laws of copyright can they be sued by the party who
>> >suffered loss.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >Kejau
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >>From: "musa sana" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>> >>To: [log in to unmask]
>> >>Subject: RE: [>-<] FWD: THE ALLIANCE for REGIME CHANGE POLICY
>>PROPOSALS:
>> >>Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 05:07:13 +0000
>> >>
>> >>[ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "musa sana" ]
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Folks,
>> >>
>> >>This is just to wet your appetites. until i receive shipment of my
>> >>documents, pls.i refer you all to the below IMF site. It should be
>>noted
>> >>that my mission is not to humiliate UDP/NRP. No, it is to point at the
>> >>stupidity of their actions. Also important to note is their
>>craftmanship
>> >>in doctoring sub-headings like HUNGER instead of NUTRITION as appeared
>>on
>> >>the document, CRD, LRD &URD instead of (provinces)or rural areas.
>> >>
>> >>More to come as soon as i have time.
>> >>
>> >>htt://www.imf.org/external/NP/prsp/2002/gmb/01/043002
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Until then, pls.enjoy.
>> >>
>> >>Musa Sanneh
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>From: "musa sana" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>> >>To: [log in to unmask]
>> >>Subject: RE: [>-<] FWD: THE ALLIANCE for REGIME CHANGE POLICY
>>PROPOSALS:
>> >>Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2006 23:09:06 +0000
>> >>
>> >>[ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "musa sana" ]
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Folks,
>> >>
>> >>It appears that UDP/NRP does not know the repercussions for plagiarism.
>> >>Folk, UDP/NRP policy statement is a carbon copy of the Gambia
>>government's
>> >>policy statement negotiated with our traditional donors at the donor
>>round
>> >>table in Geneva. I have reviewed this document while preparing a
>>project
>> >>in economic 301 way ago in 1999.Its unfortunate.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>I will come back with more on this issue.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Musa Sanneh
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>From:United Democratic Party NYC <[log in to unmask]>
>> >>Reply-To:[log in to unmask]
>> >>To:GAMBIA LIST <[log in to unmask]>, gambia post
>> >><[log in to unmask]>
>> >>Subject:[>-<] FWD: THE ALLIANCE for REGIME CHANGE POLICY PROPOSALS:
>> >>Date:Fri, 1 Sep 2006 15:21:24 -0700 (PDT)
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Ladies and Gentlemen, below isthe policy proposals for the UDP/NRP/GPDP
>> >>ALLIANCE FOR REGIME CHANGE (ARC).
>> >>
>> >>Thank you.
>> >>UDP/NRP/GPDP ALLIANCE for Regime Change
>> >>New York -USA
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>POLICY PROPOSALS OF THE U/NRP ALLIANCE – APRIL 2006
>> >>
>> >>1) POLICY BACKGROUND – COUNTRY SITUATION
>> >>2) POLICY FRAMEWORK OF THE ALLIANCE
>> >>3) GENERAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY CHALLENGES
>> >>
>> >>i) ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INFLATION
>> >>ii) THE DEBT QUESTION
>> >>iii) AGRICULTURE
>> >>iv) TAXATION AND REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES IN THE SOCIAL
>> >>SERVICE SECTORS
>> >>
>> >>v) INFRASTRUCTURE
>> >>vi) TOURISM
>> >>
>> >>4) SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY CHALLENGES
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>i) THE CHALLENGES OF POVERTY AND HUNGER/INCOME AND
>> >>HUNGER
>> >>ii) THE CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION
>> >>iii) THE CHALLENGES OF HEALTH CARE PROVISION AND HIV/AIDS
>> >>
>> >>iv) THE CHALLENGES OF WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
>> >>v) THE CHALLENGES OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
>> >>vi) THE CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
>> >>vii) (a) THE CHALLENGES OF GOVERNANCE
>> >>
>> >>AND
>> >> DEVELOPMENT
>> >>(b) THE CHALLENGES OF CONSTITUTIONAL RULE
>> >>
>> >>1) THE COUNTRY SITUATION – POLICY BACKGROUND
>> >>
>> >>The overall policy aim of the UDP/NRP Alliance is to meet the
>>development
>> >>challenges confronting The Gambia which the current APRC regime
>>abysmally
>> >>failed to handle. The main development challenge is poverty which is
>> >>increasing instead of declining daily. Eradicating extreme poverty and
>> >>hunger is the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and is in many
>>ways
>> >>also the most daunting challenge for The Gambia. Poverty as a challenge
>> >>cannot be explained and managed without meeting the challenges of
>>Economic
>> >>and political governance. Under the APRC regime the development
>>situation
>> >>of The Gambia plunged into the following crisis: increase poverty and
>> >>hunger,
>> >>under-utilisation of the productive base of the economy, a weak
>>resource
>> >>base, indebtedness, unemployment, slippage in economic and political
>> >>governance, persistent gender inequality, inadequate provision of
>>health
>> >>and education services (particularly for the poor and rural residents),
>> >>and rising HIV/AIDS zero-prevalence rates. The high rate of poverty
>>also
>> >>exacerbates environmental degradation and threatens Government efforts
>>to
>> >>promote sustainable environmental management. This crisis came about
>> >>through the APRC's Economic and Political mal-governance, bad policies
>>and
>> >>lack of prudent economic management and financial discipline in public
>> >>expenditure programmes. They also manifest the absence of Human
>> >>Development focus and Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) as a
>>Development
>> >>Framework.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Since the illegal seizure of power in July 1994, the APRC regime
>>through
>> >>the mismanagement of the economy and resources, lack of transparency
>>and
>> >>accountability and disrespect for the Rule of Law and constitutionality
>>in
>> >>the name of a "revolution" or "Soldiers with a difference" created the
>> >>current crisis. The regime's approach to development is characterized
>>by
>> >>misplaced priorities, inappropriate policy measures, inadequate
>> >>implementation mechanisms and lack of political commitment. The regime
>> >>says that it wants to encourage investment yet it introduces
>>unreasonable
>> >>tax charges that kill the Goose that lays the golden egg. The regime
>> >>fails to create a conducive investment environment
>> >>such as constant supply of power to attract investors, making The
>>Gambia
>> >>an investors' paradise of the sub-region. Instead, the regime relies on
>> >>an overburdening bureaucracy resulting in unnecessary delays and time
>> >>wasting of business transactions. This stifles investor's confidence.
>> >>The regime says that it wants to improve the economic conditions of the
>> >>Gambian poor without improving their productive potential. Instead, the
>> >>regime relies on debts (foreign and domestic) the servicing of which
>> >>further impoverishes the Gambian masses. The regime claims to usher in
>>a
>> >>meaningful development for The Gambia without adequately addressing the
>> >>agricultural sector, the provision of social services such as health
>>and
>> >>education. But it instead invest in white elephant projects –
>> >>the July 22nd Arch, the Kanilai Palace, the jet aircrafts, the
>> >>multi-million musical mixer set, the six multi-million Dollar luxurious
>> >>American Limousines without addressing the need to purchase the farmers
>> >>harvest of groundnuts, or providing transport facilities for our school
>> >>children or providing adequate drugs for our hospitals and health
>>centres
>> >>or rebuilding our main south bank trunk road. The regime says that it
>> >>wants to provide employment for our youth population, but yet failed to
>> >>build the productive base of the economy in the form of factories and
>> >>processing industries, which can absorb a
>> >>significant percentage of the labour force and boost our export
>> >>potential. The regime claims to be the protector of human and peoples'
>> >>rights but yet the Gambian people are being subject to constant fear
>> >>through the harassment by the security forces especially the notorious
>> >>National Intelligence Agency. The regime regards itself to be
>>democratic
>> >>but yet its political governance record is one of the poorest in the
>> >>sub-region. The constant tampering with the Constitution by doctoring
>>it
>> >>to the taste of the regime, the lack of political commitment to its own
>> >>decentralization programme, the dismissal of elected Mayors and
>>Chairmen
>> >>of local authorities, the hiring and firing of elected and non-elected
>> >>officials of the regime just because they appear to be on the other
>>side
>> >>of the political divide, illustrate how undemocratic the regime is. The
>> >>question now is:
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>- is this the kind of situation we want to continue
>> >>with after 2006?
>> >>
>> >>- Is there an alternative to the present situation?
>> >>
>> >>- If so what is the alternative?
>> >>
>> >>We certainly do not want the present situation to continue beyond 2006.
>> >>The alternative is the UDP/NRP alliance approach to meet the
>> >>aforementioned Development challenges.
>> >>
>> >>2) THE ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY FRAMEWORK
>> >>
>> >>Recognising the magnitude of the aforementioned development challenges,
>> >>and considering the need to formulate tangible and appropriate
>>solutions
>> >>the alliance considers it imperative to first formulate a policy
>>framework
>> >>that will facilitate the speedy, efficient and sustainable
>>implementation
>> >>of our recommendation. If elected, the policy framework of the Alliance
>> >>is the promotion of Human Development based on Human rights Based
>>Approach
>> >>(HRBA). This framework simply means putting people at the centre stage
>>of
>> >>development. It calls for enlarging peoples' choice and building their
>> >>capabilities to live a long and healthy life, have access to knowledge,
>> >>enjoy a
>> >>decent standard of living, and participate in the life of their
>>community
>> >>and the decisions that affect their lives. Since there are many ways of
>> >>expanding people's choice, the key dimensions of human development can
>> >>evolve over
>> >>time. However the current central issues our alliance will address
>> >>include participation and freedom, sustainable human development and
>>human
>> >>security against both chronic threats such as hunger and abrupt threats
>> >>such as job loss.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>This framework – Human Development and Human Rights Based Approach – is
>> >>holistic seeking to balance economic efficiency, equity and freedom. It
>> >>is action oriented, recognizing that the link between Economic growth
>>and
>> >>human progress requires deliberate policies. It must be acknowledged
>> >>that growth for its own sake is not enough; its structure and quality
>> >>matters as well. Human development further defines human poverty as the
>> >>denial of both material wellbeing, and the chance for a life of
>>dignity,
>> >>self-respect and basic rights.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The attractiveness of this policy framework of our alliance lies in the
>> >>fact that it has several indices to quantitatively measure human
>> >>development. These indices include the Human Development Index (HDI),
>> >>Human Poverty Index (HPI), the gender related development index (GD1)
>> >>which adjusts the human development for gender inequality, the gender
>> >>empowerment index (GEI) which assesses gender equality in economic and
>> >>political participation.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The specific policy proposals emanating from this framework and which
>>are
>> >>highlighted below will help shape our poverty reduction strategy; they
>> >>will help all stakeholders – NGOS, civil society and the private sector
>>-
>> >>to monitor progress and hold our Government accountable, they will help
>> >>the media and international organizations to steer our development
>>effort
>> >>programmes and policies in the right direction. The framework can also
>> >>serve as a basis for evaluating and ensuring the adaptation of
>>policies,
>> >>plans and strategies geared towards the achievement of the Millennium
>> >>Development Goals (MDG):
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>1) Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger
>> >>
>> >>2) Achievement of universal primary education
>> >>
>> >>3) Promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>4) Reduction of child mortality
>> >>
>> >>5) Improvement of maternal health
>> >>
>> >>6) Combating HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases
>> >>
>> >>7) Ensuring environmental sustainability
>> >>
>> >>8) Developing global partnership for development
>> >>
>> >>The alliance policy framework if adopted will make the following
>> >>difference to the current situation:
>> >>
>> >>- Our national policies will be revised to reflect the
>> >>needs of the poor
>> >>
>> >>- Our budget priorities will be shifted
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>- Our laws passed and the Constitution will be amended
>> >>to reflect the needs of the citizenry
>> >>
>> >>- The generated data will be incorporated with the
>> >>statistical system
>> >>
>> >>- There will be increased donor funding targeting
>> >>human development priorities.
>> >>
>> >>- There will be prominent media coverage on human
>> >>development issues
>> >>
>> >>- People centred strategies will be adopted and
>> >>implemented
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>- Civil societies will become vibrant and become
>> >>active partners.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>3) GENERAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY CHALLENGES
>> >>
>> >>Given the existing situation in The Gambia, the UDP/NRP Alliance not
>>only
>> >>analyses the general development challenges facing the country but also
>> >>proposed policy proposals as alternatives to the bad policies of the
>>APRC
>> >>regime. The general development policy challenges we face emanate from
>> >>critical analysis of issues including economic growth, inflation, and
>>the
>> >>debt question, agriculture, taxation, infrastructure and suggest
>> >>alternative approaches to meet these general development policy
>> >>challenges. In the following Section (4) specific development policy
>> >>challenges including poverty and hunger, education, health care, women
>> >>empowerment, youth empowerment,
>> >>sustainable environmental management and governance and development are
>> >>analysed and policy proposals suggested as alternative to the current
>> >>situation.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The current national Development strategy is based on the second
>>strategy
>> >>for Poverty Alleviation or SPA II. This is The Gambia's first PRSP and
>> >>runs for a Three Year cycle (2003 – 2005) that is scheduled to end in
>> >>December 2009. SPA II consist of five pillars (i.e Development
>>objective)
>> >>which are:-
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>- Improving the enabling policy environment to promote
>> >>growth and poverty reduction
>> >>
>> >>- Enhancing the productive capacity and social
>> >>protection of the poor and vulnerable
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>- Improving the coverage of the unmet basic needs of
>> >>the poor
>> >>
>> >>- Building capacity for local, people centred
>> >>development through decentralization
>> >>
>> >>- Mainstreaming gender equity, environmental issues,
>> >>nutrition, and governance and HIV/Aids awareness into all development
>> >>programs.
>> >>
>> >>At a round table conference for The Gambia in September 2002, funds to
>>the
>> >>tune of USA$118 was pledged. However full disbursement of the amount
>>was
>> >>conditional on the Government meeting a variety of specific policy
>>actions
>> >>or "triggers". These triggers include action on budgeting processes,
>> >>greater transparency and accountability in financial matters,
>>development
>> >>of strategies and indicators on rural development issues and measures
>>to
>> >>ensure a more supportive policy and institutional environment to
>>encourage
>> >>private sector investment. In reality full disbursement of the pledged
>> >>amount was not realized because the APRC regime failed abysmally to
>>meet
>> >>the conditionalities or
>> >>"triggers". The budgetary process was in shambles, there was no
>> >>transparency and accountability in financial matters and rural
>>development
>> >>was given low priority. The policy and institutional environment was
>>not
>> >>conducive or supportive for the full participation of the private
>>sector.
>> >>Alternatively the UDP/NRP Alliance, if given the mandate, will ensure
>>the
>> >>fulfillment of all the triggers set out by the donor community to
>>achieve
>> >>full disbursement of the pledged amount. Rural development will be
>>given
>> >>the priority it deserves so that the quality of life of the rural poor
>> >>will be improved. The potential role of the private sector as a
>> >>stakeholder will be recognized and encouraged to fully participate in
>> >>development. The economic and political governance
>> >>will be established to create an appropriate policy and institutional
>> >>environment that will encourage all stakeholders to participate as
>> >>development partners.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Faced with high rates of illiteracy, cultural traditional values that
>> >>limit the contribution that women can make to socio economic
>>development,
>> >>a weak resource base, and a slippages in economic governance, it is
>>easy
>> >>to see why The Gambia, under the APRC regime, faces numerous
>>development
>> >>challenges. As regards socio economic development, the primary
>>challenge
>> >>consists of the persistence of and increases in poverty. The country
>> >>under the APRC leadership also faces formidable challenges in the form
>>of
>> >>persistent gender inequality, inadequate provision of health and
>>education
>> >>services, (particularly for the poor and rural residents),
>>nonobservance
>> >>of child's rights and rising HIV/AIDS zero- prevalence
>> >>rates. The high rate of poverty also exacerbates environmental
>> >>degradation and threaten Government efforts to promote sustainable
>> >>environmental management.
>> >>
>> >>Under the UDP/NRP Alliance, the constraints of human and financial
>> >>reserves will be addressed with a renewed commitment to public sector
>> >>performance that promotes transparency and accountability. The delivery
>> >>of key basic services such as education and health will be improved
>> >>through a result based management approach and great participation by
>>key
>> >>stakeholders. For this to our Alliance will ensure that funding is
>> >>increased to those programs having direct impact on the lives of the
>>poor,
>> >>and thus more effective management of scarce state resources is
>>essential.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The failure of the APRC regime to implement the PRSP can be attributed
>>to
>> >>a variety of factors including low growth rate, unproductive economy,
>>poor
>> >>infrastructure, inflation and expansion of money supply to meet
>>Government
>> >>credit requirement and indebtedness. These came about through bad
>> >>policies and lack of prudent economic management and financial
>>discipline
>> >>in public expenditure programme and failure to adhere to the Human
>> >>Development and Human Rights Based Approach by the regime.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>(1) ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INFLATION
>> >>
>> >>Currently the economy is growing at 4.5 per annum with an inflation of
>>23%
>> >>which is one of the worst in the sub-region. Consequently efforts to
>> >>attain PRSP targets have been impaired. The APRC Government has
>> >>difficulties in sustaining economic targets during the programme
>>supported
>> >>by the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and building
>> >>institutional capacity of the key PRSP sectors (Agriculture, Education
>>and
>> >>Health).
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>In the late 1990 the inflation rate was below 5% and the depreciation
>>of
>> >>the Dalasi was limited. But due to the bad policies of the APRC regime,
>> >>the average annual rate increased to 8.6% in 2002 and 17.o% in 2003.
>>The
>> >>rate now stands at 23%. The average nominal exchange rates of the
>>Dalasi
>> >>with respect to the US Dollar increased from 15.7% in 2001 to 19.9% in
>> >>2002 and 28.5% in 2003, before stabilizing around 27.5 in 2004. The
>>high
>> >>rates of inflation and rapid depreciation were caused by excessive
>>growth
>> >>of money supply resulting from domestic financing of large fiscal
>>deficits
>> >>and cause the Central Bank to lose about 7 Billion Dalasis stemming
>>from
>> >>weak governance
>> >>at the Central Bank of The Gambia. To date this huge loss cannot be
>> >>accounted for. Monetary growth averaged 33% per year from 2000 to 2003
>> >>compared to average growth rate of approximately 15% from 1997 to 1999.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>In conjunction with the expansion of the money supply, domestic credit
>>by
>> >>the banking sector significantly increased by an average annual rate of
>> >>62% during 2000 to 2003. Credit to the Government increased by an
>>annual
>> >>average of 200% credit to the private sector by 35% and credit to
>>public
>> >>enterprises by 219%. Much of the credit expansion was for the public
>> >>enterprises. Much of the credit expansion in the private sector was
>> >>concentrated in the trading sector which benefit from relatively high
>> >>rates of sales turnover, but was also due to substantial speculation in
>> >>foreign currency and flight into real assets in response to the
>>continuing
>> >>depreciation of the Dalasis and rising inflation.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Our Alliance, if given the mandate, will institute a prudent economic
>> >>management measures and financial discipline in public expenditure
>> >>programmes. There will be strict control of money supply and operation
>>of
>> >>the Central Bank will come under tight scrutiny to avert the loss of 7
>> >>Billion Dalasis. The accounts of the Central Bank will be jealously and
>> >>annually audited instead of leaving it for years without being audited.
>> >>
>> >>(II) THE DEBT QUESTION
>> >>
>> >>The APRC Governments' difficulties in mobilizing revenue and financial
>> >>resources for further investment pushed the regime to resort to over
>> >>taxation and indebtedness. The nature of the debt stock of the country
>> >>can be classified into domestic and foreign debts. Out of the D1,
>> >>460Million that was paid as interest and debt repayment in 2005 D723
>> >>Million is payment of interest on domestic debts. The payment of
>>foreign
>> >>interest amounted to 226 Million, foreign amortization or payment of
>> >>principal amounted to D516 Million. The domestic debt has been growing
>> >>because of the dependence of Government on Treasury Bills to finance
>> >>growing budget deficit: for example in 2005, the
>> >>budget deficit amounted to D855 Million. This budget deficit had been
>> >>compounded by unauthorized expenditure. This mismanagement of the
>> >>resources led to action by the IMF to suspend its
>> >>financing of the poverty reduction strategy Paper Programme in 2003
>>until
>> >>Government curbs unauthorized expenditure, audit the Central Bank
>> >>externally and reduce the deficits and clear arrears in the payment of
>>the
>> >>interest on debts. In fact the donors punished The Gambia because of
>> >>mis-governance by withholding 118 Million Dollars pledged in 2002 in
>>the
>> >>Geneva round. In other words, as a percentage of total recurrent
>> >>expenditures interest payments (domestic and foreign) increased from
>>23.7%
>> >>in 2001 to 28.1% in 2002 to 36.4% in 2003. In 2003 the external debt
>> >>service to GDP ratio remained broadly constant at around 5%. Domestic
>> >>debts interest payments steadily increased from 3.4% of GDP in 2001 to
>> >>4.2% in 2003 and increased to 9.2% in
>> >>2004. In 2004 servicing of interest on contracted debt consumed 40.3%
>>of
>> >>the recurrent budget and the interest element of debt servicing
>>represents
>> >>a major concern for budget allocation and public resource management.
>>As
>> >>a share of GDP, Government domestic debt rose from 27% at the end of
>>2003
>> >>to 32% at the end of 2004. The Gambia's domestic debt stock as a share
>>of
>> >>GDP under the APRC regime is more than double the average for non
>>CFA/SSA
>> >>countries and four times the level in the highly indebted poor
>>countries
>> >>(HIPC) eligible non CFA/SSA countries. It is worth noting that the high
>> >>debt servicing has serious implications for poverty alleviation because
>>it
>> >>reduces the sustainability of current poverty alleviation
>> >>programmes.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>We in the UDP/NRP Alliance resolve to carry out financial reforms and
>> >>institute financial discipline to ensure effectiveness of poverty
>> >>reduction policies. To increase the revenue base of the economy, the
>> >>Alliance will concentrate on the growth of the productive base of the
>> >>economy. Instead of a tax and debt driven economy, the Alliance will
>> >>encourage the growth of industries to manufacture and produce goods for
>> >>export. Agricultural produce in the form of fruits and vegetable exist
>> >>but are not processed for export. Similarly abundant fishery resources
>> >>exist but are not processed for export. The
>> >>UDP/NRP Alliance will embark on deliberate policies to process these
>> >>resources, the proceeds of which will improve our foreign exchange
>> >>earnings and thus provide revenue for further investments.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Recent reports indicate a substantial reduction in Government resources
>> >>allocated to the Agriculture, education and health sectors under the
>>APRC
>> >>leadership. In 2004 and 2005 the Agricultural sector was allocated 2.9%
>> >>and 3.4% of the Governments' recurrent budget (financed largely from
>> >>Government revenues). The education sector received 10.3% and 10.7%
>> >>during the same period, while the share of the Government recurrent
>>budget
>> >>devoted to the health sector fell from 9.8% to 8.9%.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>(III) AGRICULTURE
>> >>
>> >>Agriculture employs approximately 75% of the population and yet
>> >>contributes only 30% of the total output of the economy. The sector is
>>of
>> >>particular concern to the Alliance because it receives relatively low
>> >>allocations in both the recurrent and development budgets. For example,
>> >>agriculture accounted for 7.4% and 8.1% of the development budget in
>>2004,
>> >>and 2005 respectively compared to education, which received 8.7% and
>>16.8%
>> >>of the development budget in 2004 and 2005 respectively. More than half
>> >>the total labour force is employed in the agricultural sector, which is
>> >>also dominated by the poor. The low priority accorded to Agriculture by
>> >>the APRC regime explains why the
>> >>revenue base of the economy remains weak, it explains why the economy
>> >>remains unproductive, it explains why poverty is increasing instead of
>> >>decreasing and it also explains shy adequate employment opportunities
>> >>cannot be created. The APRC Government, despite its rhetoric, failed in
>> >>the past few years to purchase the farmers produce of groundnuts – thus
>> >>condemning the farming community to a life of poverty and food
>>insecurity.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The UDP/NRP Alliance intends to reverse this trend by giving
>>agriculture
>> >>the priority it deserves as the leading sector in our pursuit of Rural
>> >>Development as our Development strategy. In our recurrent and
>>development
>> >>budgets significant resources will be allocated to Agriculture. We also
>> >>intend to industrialize the agricultural sector, making it more
>>productive
>> >>and attractive to the farming community so that it can generate
>>adequate
>> >>foreign exchange and create adequate employment opportunities for the
>> >>rural poor. The marketing of the agricultural produce will not only be
>> >>assured but attractive enough to serve as an incentive for more people
>>to
>> >>go back to
>> >>the land. It is only through such progressive policies that
>>intervention
>> >>in the Agricultural sector will have significant socio economic impact
>>on
>> >>the poor.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>(IV) TAXATION AND REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES IN THE SOCIAL SERVICE
>> >>SECTORS
>> >>
>> >>The APRC regime, faced with a weak revenue base, and yet in need of
>> >>revenue to invest, resorts to over taxation. Instead of making the
>> >>economy more productive it instead relies on indebtedness and over
>> >>taxation to generate funds for further investment. The regime not only
>> >>increases taxes but also reduce expenditure on social services. For
>> >>example vehicle licence fees have increase by 30%, sales tax on non-oil
>> >>imports have increased from 10% to 15%. There is 15% sales tax on
>> >>domestically produced goods and excise duty of 10% is levied on used
>>cars
>> >>in addition to the customs duties and sales tax. The holding tax of 10%
>> >>on contract values
>> >>serves as a disincentive to potential investors especially when this is
>> >>added to the payment of D15, 000.00 as pay roll tax by investors.
>> >>Municipal taxes and local Government/Area Council taxes are
>> >>increasing annually without the provision of commensurate services.
>>These
>> >>increases in taxes would have been justified if the revenue so
>>generated
>> >>were invested in the productive sector of the economy and the social
>> >>service sectors. But instead, the APRC regime increases taxes while
>> >>reducing expenditure on social sectors. For example subvention at the
>> >>RVTH has been reduced from D41 Million in 2005 to D35 Million in 2006.
>> >>Expenditure on drugs and dressings has been reduced from D6.5 Million
>>to
>> >>D5 Million. The subvention to Bansang Hospital dropped from D13 Million
>> >>to D11.5 Million with expenditure on drugs and dressing dropping from
>>D3
>> >>Million to D2 Million. The subvention to Farafenni Hospital dropped
>>from
>> >>D10.5 Million to D9.3 Million with expenditure on
>> >>drugs and dressing being reduced from D2.2 Million to D1.2 Million.
>> >>Subvention to Sulayman Junkung Jammeh Hospital in Bwiam was reduced
>>from
>> >>D5.5 Million to D4.7 Million with expenditure on drugs and dressing
>>being
>> >>reduced from 1.2 Million to D700,000.00
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Over the years these bad policies of the Agricultural Sector, the
>>reduced
>> >>spending on the social sectors, over-taxation, fiscal and macro
>>economic
>> >>indiscipline have undermined efforts to achieve sustainable economic
>> >>growth and Development. The result has been a rise in poverty and
>> >>increase dependence on external development assistance, debt and
>> >>over-taxation.
>> >>
>> >>In view of this the UDP/NRP Alliance is resolve to make a decisive
>>break
>> >>from the "stop go" policies and embark on a comprehensive economic
>>reform
>> >>programme that would establish the conditions necessary and sufficient
>>for
>> >>sustainable growth and poverty reduction.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>(v) INFRASTRUCTURE
>> >>
>> >>Another area of failed APRC policy is in infrastructure. The ability of
>> >>the country to unleash its economic potential is closely linked to the
>> >>ability of its infrastructure to support the social and economic
>> >>activities of the population. Despite the recognition of the importance
>> >>of good infrastructure, The Gambia under the APRC regime continues to
>>be
>> >>plagued by problems such as erratic electricity supply, bad roads,
>> >>crumbing river infrastructure and problems of access to
>>telecommunications
>> >>services. The high economic cost associated with inadequate
>> >>infrastructure acts as a major disincentive to investment by foreign
>>and
>> >>domestic entrepreneurs and is one of the major challenges to private
>> >>sector
>> >>led growth. This situation, without doubt, has serious consequences for
>> >>development in the country.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The UDP/NRP Alliance plans to have a critical look at the country's
>> >>infrastructure with a view to rehabilitating it to contribute towards
>>the
>> >>development of the country. River transport will be resuscitated as it
>>is
>> >>more cost effective and the main north and south bank roads will be
>>made
>> >>more functional to ease access for goods services and the population.
>> >>
>> >>(VI) TOURISM
>> >>
>> >>Tourism is the main foreign exchange earner for The Gambia contributing
>> >>over 12% to the GDP of the country. It also creates significant local
>> >>employment with approximately 16,000 people employed by the Sector. In
>> >>revenue terms it was projected that it will earn about $40 Million for
>>the
>> >>economy for the period 2004. Based on a projected doubling in tourist
>> >>arrivals, tourism's contribution to monetary GDP is projected to
>>increase
>> >>from an estimated 13% in 2004 to 18% in 2020. Unfortunately under the
>> >>APRC regime however many of the potential benefits of tourism
>> >>
>> >>(inter-sectoral linkages value added etc) do not accrue to the country
>>due
>> >>to the low end nature of tourism in The Gambia.
>> >>
>> >>Under the UDP/NRP Alliance deliberate attempts will be made to
>>establish
>> >>linkages between the tourism sector with agriculture, industries and
>> >>fisheries sectors. This way the country will enjoy the potential
>> >>benefits, which is currently unrealized.
>> >>
>> >>The key elements of our development programme will include measures to
>> >>strengthen macro economic stability and ensure that the debt service
>>ratio
>> >>is kept at a manageable level. The programme should also incorporate
>> >>reforms aimed at reducing poverty through initiatives aimed at
>>producing
>> >>higher levels of economic growth with equity. These reforms would
>>include
>> >>improvements in the investment climate, the strengthening of public
>> >>expenditure management, and promoting a culture of accountability,
>> >>transparency and good governance. Both economic and political reforms
>>are
>> >>imperative if The Gambia is to be strategically positioned in an
>> >>increasingly competitive and globalised world economy. This is the
>> >>Alliance's policy goal.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>4. SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>4.1)THE CHALLENGE OF POVERTY AND HUNGER
>> >>
>> >>(a) Income poverty
>> >>
>> >>Poverty and hunger is a specific development challenge in The Gambia,
>> >>which will occupy the full attention of the UDP/NRP Alliance as a major
>> >>policy focus. It is this major development goal around which all policy
>> >>activities will revolve. The current APRC regime failed abysmally to
>> >>address the poverty question. The Gambia is one of the poorest
>>countries
>> >>in the world and indications are that it is getting poorer as reported
>>in
>> >>its Human Development index (HDI) ranking by the UNDP Human Development
>> >>Report (HDR). The country under the APRC regime slipped from 151 out
>>177
>> >>countries in 2003, to 155 out of 177 countries, in 2004
>> >>and 2005. In The Gambia, poverty (income poverty) is taken as the
>> >>inability of a person to afford food, clothing, health care, and all
>>other
>> >>necessities of life, all year round. The food poor (hunger) category
>>are
>> >>those who cannot afford the minimum food requirements, currently 2700
>> >>calories per adult equivalent that constitute a healthy diet. Lack of
>> >>access to basic social services such as clean and safe drinking water,
>> >>education and health care also exacerbate poverty.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>While poverty is found in all parts of the country, extreme poverty is
>> >>most severe in the rural areas of The Gambia. Over 90% of the rural
>> >>population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. Equally the
>> >>poorest parts of the country are those that depend on agriculture,
>>notably
>> >>the north bank and lower, central and upper river divisions. According
>>to
>> >>the 1998 household poverty survey, rural women are disadvantaged
>>compared
>> >>to their male and urban counterpart. The contrast between living
>> >>conditions in rural and urban areas is based on the limited
>>occupational
>> >>and livelihood choices, and dependence on agriculture in rural areas.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The first Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) which is to eradicate
>>extreme
>> >>poverty and hunger is in many ways also the most daunting challenge for
>> >>The Gambia. The UDP/NRP Alliance could not agree more with this. The
>> >>difficulties in attaining this goal (which is further decomposed into
>> >>targets aimed at reducing income poverty and the proportion of people
>>who
>> >>suffer from hunger) is closely linked to the challenges Government has
>> >>encountered in managing the economy and identifying/implementing a
>>clear
>> >>path for socio-economic development. Under the APRC regime, there are
>> >>inadequate links between production and service sectors, which meant
>>that
>> >>producers often have difficulties in
>> >>finding markets for their products and as a result limit their
>> >>production. Operators in the service sectors (especially those
>>affiliated
>> >>with the tourism sector) speak of the difficulties in identifying local
>> >>providers who can deliver goods of acceptable quality and quantities
>>and
>> >>prefer to service their inputs from outside the country. This
>> >>disarticulation is exacerbated by low Government resources devoted to
>>the
>> >>productive sectors and private sector operators than generate higher
>>rates
>> >>of economic return by purchasing Government Treasury Bills or importing
>> >>foodstuffs than by investing in local production. The consequences of a
>> >>stagnating agricultural sector are high rates of rural out-migration
>>and
>> >>urbanization, high rates of unemployment and escalating import bills.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>In The Gambia the agriculture sector is still characterized by
>>subsistence
>> >>rain fed crop production (coos grain, rice, cassava etc.), traditional
>> >>livestock rearing, semi commercial groundnut and horticultural
>>production,
>> >>and a small cotton sub-sector. Domestic grain production is
>>characterized
>> >>by low productivity and meets only about 50% of national requirements.
>> >>Based on current trends, demand for food will double by 2015 from a
>>2000
>> >>baseline and cereal imports could triple by 2020. Agriculture is also
>> >>subject to the vicissitudes of the weather; inadequate marketing
>>storage
>> >>facilities, extension services, and access to credit have resulted in
>> >>relatively high production
>> >>costs, low incomes and food insecurity. The combination of these
>>factors
>> >>reinforces poverty in the rural areas, with women being the most
>> >>affected.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>According to the 1998 study, approximately 78% of the economically
>>active
>> >>women work in agriculture compared to just 57% of men. Groundnut
>>farmers
>> >>constitute almost 53% of the extremely poor, with more than 20% of
>>small
>> >>and medium producers of groundnuts being extremely poor. The annual
>>PRSP
>> >>progress report for 2004 noted, "un-judicious pricing policies,
>> >>culminating into barriers to adequate public and private sector
>> >>partnership and low marketing margins prove to be serious
>>dis-incentives
>> >>to operators in the groundnut market". The consequences of these
>>policies
>> >>are that groundnut produce are often confronted with late arrival of
>> >>inputs (seeds, fertilizers and payment coupon that are redeemed late,
>>if
>> >>at all.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The low agricultural incomes have secondary effects on a number of
>>other
>> >>sectors that contribute to poverty. An immediate cause that contributes
>> >>to low productivity in the agricultural sector is the high rates of
>> >>illiteracy. High rates of illiteracy make it difficult for agricultural
>> >>households to absorb technical assistance, increase the costs of
>>ensuring
>> >>quality control for farmers involved in agricultural productivity and
>>agro
>> >>processing and this limit the market opportunities for agricultural
>> >>producers. In urban areas, high rates of illiteracy inhibit the
>> >>development of secondary and tertiary sectors, of the economy, reduce
>> >>competitiveness of the local private sector and contribute to a lack of
>> >>employment opportunities in the formal sector.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The UDP/NRP Alliance endeavours to pursue an integrated Rural
>>Development
>> >>approach which will address not only the goal of increasing
>>agricultural
>> >>productivity but also aim at addressing basic health qualitative
>> >>education, water and food problems of the rural areas. We must ensure
>> >>that the rural population has adequate access to basic needs services
>>and
>> >>non-agricultural income generating activities. To facilitate the proper
>> >>implementation of these objectives we must focus attention on rational
>> >>decentralization of government administration that is culturally
>> >>meaningful to our people and which will ensure their empowerment in any
>> >>development undertaking. Attacking poverty will not
>> >>be confined to the rural areas alone. The Alliance is resolved to
>>address
>> >>poverty in the urban areas as well. A successful intervention in rural
>> >>development will reduce the migration to our urban areas and thus
>>reduce
>> >>congestion.
>> >>
>> >>The Gambia's formal sector is very small, employing just over 10% of
>>the
>> >>labour force. Employment opportunities are gender biased and in favour
>>of
>> >>men, particularly in the formal sector. In this sector, education is a
>> >>prerequisite but the traditional gender roles and cultural norms have
>> >>contributed to the general low level of education among Gambian women.
>> >>According to the 2002 PRSP in 1998 the national literacy rate for
>>females
>> >>aged 15-24 years was only 26% (compared to 44.5% for male). As can be
>> >>expected, poor women (extremely poor (11.7%) and poor (24.8%) had the
>> >>lowest literacy rates. The high rates of female illiteracy entail that
>> >>many
>> >>women are effectively barred from taking advantage of Government
>>policies
>> >>that promote income generating opportunities where literacy is a
>> >>prerequisite and maintain them and their offspring in cyclical poverty
>> >>trap.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The consequences of low literacy levels are revealed in an assessment
>>of
>> >>formal sector employment disaggregated by gender. Women occupy 9.4% of
>> >>the skilled labour force and 61.9% of the unskilled labour force.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>If poverty is more acute in the rural areas of The Gambia, the
>>immediate
>> >>cause is in large part due to the low income of agricultural producers.
>>A
>> >>history of producing groundnuts for income generation has left many of
>> >>these households vulnerable to pricing and purchasing mechanisms, which
>> >>are largely state controlled. An underlying cause can be traced to the
>> >>lack of integration between production and tertiary sectors which means
>> >>that often there are few organized market channels between producers
>>and
>> >>consumers. In the absence of such market channels producers focus on
>> >>household consumption (as information on demand is scarce) and many
>>local
>> >>businesses prefer to import as they
>> >>cannot access quality agricultural produce in sufficient quantities on
>>a
>> >>regular basis. Thus producers elect to stay with groundnut production,
>> >>because despite the irregular supply of inputs, relatively low producer
>> >>prices and late payments, it is the one crop for which there is an
>>assured
>> >>market. The root cause of low incomes derived from agricultural
>> >>production can be linked to the difficulties encountered in managing
>>state
>> >>resources that has entailed that insufficient resources are devoted to
>> >>agricultural research, extension and other services that would assist
>> >>agricultural households to diversify out of groundnut production. The
>> >>situation is exacerbated by poor rural infrastructure (transport,
>> >>telecommunications and power) that raises the cost of commercial
>> >>production and impedes private investment in the sector.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>To improve on the current poverty situation, the UDP/NRP Alliance will
>> >>address the improvement of public resource management, increased
>> >>absorptive capacity of those institutions charged with delivering basic
>> >>services and actively promote greater integration between productive
>>and
>> >>tertiary sectors and removing structural constraints that impede the
>>full
>> >>participation of women in the economy of the country.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>We see Government (at both the Central and Local levels as a major duty
>> >>bearer as regards the elimination of poverty in The Gambia. The
>>Alliance
>> >>central government has duties that include developing and implementing
>> >>appropriate macro-economic policies that will provide sufficient
>>resources
>> >>for government agencies to reduce poverty and contribute towards the
>> >>attainment of the MDGS. It also entails that those institutions tasked
>> >>with delivering agricultural services are adequately funded and are
>> >>operated under performance based management schemes where the results
>>can
>> >>be regularly monitored and publicly assessed. The Alliance central
>> >>government
>> >>will also have the obligation of providing essential infrastructure
>>that
>> >>is a prerequisite for sustained "pro-poor" economic growth. Given the
>> >>efforts to decentralize government, it follows under the Alliance, the
>> >>duty – bearer also include local Government authorities, who are
>> >>responsible for ensuring that funds allocated from central Government
>> >>level are used for their intended purposes. Other duty bearers besides
>> >>central and local Government are civil society and the private. Sector
>> >>for the civil societies, in addition to their
>> >>duties of promoting a "pro-poor bias" to Government resource allocation
>> >>and ensuring the transparency of Government spending, they have a large
>> >>role to play in changing prevailing cultural practices and attitudes
>>that
>> >>prevent the majority of women from actively participating in the formal
>> >>economic sector.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>(b) HUNGER
>> >>
>> >>Hunger is closely related with poverty in The Gambia. The highest level
>> >>of mal-nutrition is found in the Lower, Central and Upper River
>>Divisions,
>> >>which closely correlate with the highest levels of extreme poverty.
>> >>Poverty and hunger from a vicious cycle with poverty exacerbating
>>hunger
>> >>and constraining peoples' ability to escape poverty. Maternal
>> >>malnutrition, caused by poverty, leads to low birth weight babies which
>>in
>> >>turn are more likely to die in infancy, or before their fifth birthday.
>> >>They are also more likely to suffer from under-nutrition. On-going
>> >>chronic levels of malnutrition set up a cycle for delayed school
>> >>enrolment, repeated
>> >>sickness and school absence, lower educational attainment and
>>consequently
>> >>lower lifetime earnings closing the poverty circle and transmitting
>> >>poverty from one generation to the next.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Here in lies as the rationale for our Alliance to specifically address
>>the
>> >>poverty as our main development objective. By taking care of poverty
>>the
>> >>Alliance will be addressing hunger and malnutrition. Addressing the
>> >>fundamental causes of malnutrition throughout the life cycle is a
>> >>foundation to securing sustainable reductions in poverty in The Gambia.
>> >>
>> >>(4.II) THE CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION
>> >>
>> >>The second Millennium Development Goal (MDG2) calls for the achievement
>>of
>> >>Universal Primary Education to attain the target. Government has
>>developed
>> >>educational policies that emphasised the provision of primary
>>education,
>> >>especially for traditionally excluded groups such as girl children. The
>> >>formal system of education in The Gambia consists of SIX YEARS of
>>primary
>> >>(lower basic), THREE YEARS of upper basic and THREE YEARS of senior
>> >>secondary schooling. There is also an additional THREE YEARS of
>> >>continuing education at tertiary institutions or four years at the
>> >>University. The first NINE YEARS of uninterrupted
>> >>schooling constitutes the basic cycle (which is mainly provided by the
>> >>Government) while Senior Secondary School, Technical and Vocational and
>> >>Tertiary are funded largely by the Grant in Aid arrangement and the
>> >>private sector. The basic policy objective is premises on an access,
>> >>quality and relevance. Although some measure of success has been
>>achieved
>> >>on these, some yawning capacity gaps exists, which the UDP/NRP Alliance
>>is
>> >>resolve to address.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Upon assuming power the APRC Government embarked on a countrywide
>>school
>> >>building programme to achieve access. Significant progress has been
>>made
>> >>in expanding access to basic education to reach both the EFA (Education
>> >>For All) and MDG goals. Enrolment at the lower basic level averaging 8%
>> >>annually between 1991 and 1996, have exceeded the planned target of 5%.
>> >>However due to high population growth rate (4%) these rates dropped to
>>4%
>> >>over the period 1996 to 2001 especially in the urban areas. Overall the
>> >>gross enrolment rates (GER) now stands at 91% including the
>>"Madarasahs"
>> >>ranking The Gambia considerably high above the sub-Saharan average of
>> >>69%. However this attempt by the APRC Government to achieve access
>>faced
>> >>problems. Expansion of the school building programme was accomplished
>>in
>> >>an unplanned fashion. It takes more than a physical structure to have a
>> >>school. For it to become a school adequate arrangements have to be made
>> >>to supply teachers, learning materials and basic needs to be based on
>>the
>> >>felt needs of the population. It is therefore not surprising to come
>> >>across many schools with empty classrooms and schools with inadequate
>> >>teachers. Under the UDP/NRP Alliance our school building programme must
>> >>be based on the felt needs of the population, and the provision of
>> >>qualified teachers, and teaching materials. Under the APRC regime
>> >>regional disparities
>> >>exist in the provision of schools. Whereas the urban areas are
>> >>registering nearly universal access to lower basic education, the rural
>> >>areas are only registering between 55% and 65% GER (Gross Enrolment
>> >>Rate). Under the UPD/NRP Alliance, with our emphasis on Rural
>> >>Development, this spatial disparity of the provision of schools will be
>> >>addressed by making it more rural bias. School infrastructure to
>>realize
>> >>the EFA and MDG goals will have to be addressed under the Alliance.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>A major challenge in the current system of education is quality
>>relevance
>> >>and retention. Student performance in the 2001 Monitoring Learning
>> >>Achievement (MLA) report indicate that 90% of children in lower basic
>> >>schools failed to meet the mastery levels (70% minimum score) in the
>>core
>> >>subject of Mathematics, English Language, Science, Social and
>>Environments
>> >>Studies. The immediate causes for this low performance are due
>>primarily
>> >>to weak parental support for children's learning, high illiteracy rate
>> >>(70%), poor quality of teaching including gender insensitivities during
>> >>classroom discourse, unavailability of teaching and learning materials
>>and
>> >>poor supervision of teachers.
>> >>The underlying causes relate to weak community participation in
>>monitoring
>> >>student learning, poor quality of teachers, uneven distribution of
>> >>qualified teachers and weak
>> >>support for teachers and school heads. The root or structural causes
>> >>include the lack of adequate financial and human resources to implement
>> >>the strategic education sector plan, the Government's inability to
>>train
>> >>adequate number of teachers, provide adequate infrastructure and
>>teaching
>> >>and learning materials, and sustain regular in-service training courses
>> >>for teachers and school managers.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Under the UDP/NRP Alliance serious efforts will be made to ensure
>> >>community participation in school programmes; we will ensure the
>>provision
>> >>of qualified teachers to man the schools; we will ensure the adequate
>> >>provision of teaching and learning materials, provide adequate
>> >>infrastructure, provide adequate financial and human resources and
>>support
>> >>for teachers and school heads. These measures will ensure that the
>> >>quality of education is improved.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Within the context of the APRC Education Policy, Relevance of the
>> >>curriculum is also a major challenge. The immediate cause is the lack
>>of
>> >>curriculum reform in the light of expectation of parents, communities
>>and
>> >>employers. The immediate causes relate to weak technical capacities in
>> >>curriculum development in the country and inadequate resources to
>>support
>> >>training in this area. Most of the curriculum materials are bought "off
>> >>the shelves" as the requisite technical capacities to develop relevant
>> >>text-books and other curriculum material are not available. Root causes
>> >>include inadequate teacher and school management training programmes.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Under the UDP/NRP Alliance the development of the school curriculum
>>will
>> >>be given the priority by providing adequate resources to train
>>curriculum
>> >>developers. The curriculum is to be developed on the basis of the
>> >>country's development priorities. The emphasis will be on the
>>inculcation
>> >>skills for agriculture, engineering, sciences and other vocational
>> >>training. Education should be seen not only as an end in itself but
>>also
>> >>as a means to promote development out of poverty. Thus making education
>> >>relevant to our development aspiration in this way will overcome the
>> >>current low retention rate.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The immediate cause of low retention rate includes parental preference
>>for
>> >>Islamic education, a high premium place on early marriage and negative
>> >>perceptions about western education (seen as an agent for breaking up
>> >>rural families and fueling the rural urban drift). The underlying and
>> >>root cause relate to the weak community participation and in-favourable
>> >>school calendar that affect children's help with farm work, lack of
>>role
>> >>models for female students in the communities and above all extreme
>> >>poverty (estimated at 69% among the rural population) Furthermore poor
>> >>school infrastructure and high population growth rates especially in
>>urban
>> >>areas continue to erode any progress made in access and retention.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>To improve on the low retention rate, our Alliance will ensure the full
>> >>participation of the communities in the planning and implementation of
>>our
>> >>educational programmes, we must make the curriculum relevant to the
>> >>development needs of the people and above all attack poverty. The
>>recent
>> >>sector wide Approach (SWAP) for education adopted by Government and its
>> >>development partners may usher in progress but the existing capacity
>>gap
>> >>in implementation faces a problem. There is need to supply qualified
>> >>teachers and distribute them evenly, there is need to have adequate
>>human
>> >>resources at higher management level, there is need for a sufficient
>> >>technical capacities in planning and
>> >>management, strong management skills of school heads, adequate supply
>>of
>> >>teaching and learning materials. Our Alliance will also ensure that
>>there
>> >>will be no shortfall in the annual budgetary allocations to the
>>education
>> >>sector.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Our Alliance recognizes the fact that to maintain high levels of school
>> >>attendance and retention rates we must improve the quality and
>>relevance
>> >>of education and provide an enabling school environment for learning
>> >>development partners and other stakeholders would have to do more to
>>build
>> >>the necessary technical and human resource capacities at all levels,
>> >>improve sector management, support teacher training and curriculum
>> >>development increasing funding for educational material and strengthen
>> >>monitoring and evaluation activities. Basic education in particular
>>needs
>> >>more support in terms of its delivery and support for female education.
>> >>The participation of the communities and positively
>> >>influencing their behaviours favours western education requires
>>concerted
>> >>efforts of all partners to boast enrolment rates and improve retention
>>in
>> >>order to attain the goals of both the EFA and the
>> >>MDGS.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>THE CHALLENGE OF HEALTH CARE PROVISION
>> >>
>> >>The provision of adequate health care is a major component of the MDGS.
>> >>There are three MDG's that refer to health related issues. These are
>>MDG4
>> >>(Reduce Child Mortality) and MDGs (improve Maternal Health). MDG4 aims
>>to
>> >>reduce by two-thirds the mortality rate among children under five, and
>> >>MDG5 aims to reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) by three
>>quarters.
>> >>The third health related MDG (MDG6) refers to HIV/AIDS and other
>> >>infectious diseases.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Because of the potentially devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on socio
>> >>economic development, this challenge is treated as a section in its own
>> >>right.
>> >>
>> >>The most recent countrywide mortality survey in 2001 estimates the
>>U5-MR
>> >>and IMR to be 135 and 84 per 1000 birth, respectively the same as in
>> >>1993. The most common childhood morbidity and mortality include
>>malaria,
>> >>acute respiratory infections, malnutrition and diarrhea. Together these
>> >>conditions contribute to 60 – 70% of child mortality. Neonatal
>>mortality
>> >>constitutes 40% of infant mortality. Malaria constitutes about 40% of
>>all
>> >>out patient visits as well 60% of all admissions to the pediatrics
>>ward.
>> >>There is evidence that the malaria parasite is developing resistance to
>> >>the first line of drug (Chloroquine). A recent malaria
>> >>sentinel survey indicates that the resistant level is above the WHO
>> >>threshold of 25% requiring change or regimen. In the 2001 national
>>survey
>> >>on maternal, prenatal, neonatal, infant and child mortality and
>> >>contraceptive prevalence over 260
>> >>maternal deaths were recorded. Half of the maternal deaths occurred
>> >>between the ages of 20 and 34 years, although a significant 30% were
>>below
>> >>20 years of age. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was found to be 730
>> >>maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This varied from 980 per
>>100,000
>> >>in Primary Health Care (PHC) villages to 871 per 100,000 in non -PHC
>> >>villages and 495 per 100,000 in urban areas. This indicates that the
>> >>maternal mortality rate in rural areas is nearly twice as high as that
>>in
>> >>urban areas. Whilst maternal mortality has been on the decline in the
>> >>past, recent data indicate that it is now on the rise. However in the
>> >>face of this rising maternal mortality rate, the APRC Government
>>response
>> >>is
>> >>the reduction of the share of the health sector in the recurrent budget
>>of
>> >>Government (falling from 9.8% in 2004 to 8.9% in 2005.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>To overcome the above increase in maternal mortality, the UDP/NRP
>> >>Government will increase the share of the health sector in the annual
>> >>budget to meet the challenge.
>> >>
>> >>Overall, malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in The
>> >>Gambia. It is among the indirect causes of maternal mortality
>> >>representing almost 18% of all death. Under the APRC regime quality of
>> >>care including the Provision of emergency obstetric care is found to be
>> >>below acceptable standard.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The poor quality of obstetric care is the major cause of maternal
>>deaths
>> >>and is manifested by inadequate number of appropriately trained doctors
>> >>and midwives in health facilities, inadequate essential (obstetric
>> >>equipment, chronic shortage of basic supplies, and the non-functioning
>>of
>> >>some operating theatres) in major health centres. There have been
>>attempt
>> >>to operationalise major health centres to provide emergency obstetric
>> >>care, but according to the re cent EOC study (2004) none are presently
>> >>operational. Communities perceive the health delivery system to be of
>> >>questionable quality, limiting their utilization of the services.
>>Skilled
>> >>personnel attend to only 54% of women
>> >>during delivery. Under the UDP/NRP Alliance attention will be given to
>> >>make our health centres more functional.
>> >>
>> >>The root causes of poor maternal and child health care in The Gambia
>> >>include poverty, harmful traditional beliefs and practices, poor
>> >>infrastructure (roads electricity, communication and water)
>>availability
>> >>of adequate and appropriate health information to the general public,
>>and
>> >>limited financial resources. Low household income in the country leads
>>to
>> >>low access to nutritious food, which in turn affects our health. It is
>> >>therefore imperative that our Government will attack poverty to improve
>> >>our health status as a nation.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The national priorities in the health sector are enshrined in the
>>various
>> >>policy pronouncements of the Department of State for Health and Social
>> >>Welfare. Under the National Health Policy, there are policies on
>> >>Reproductive Health, Youth, Malaria, HIV/AIDS Drugs, Population and
>> >>Nutrition. But the APRC Government failed to adopt a concerted national
>> >>effort to operationalise these policies through the development of a
>> >>costed strategic medium term plan and the mobilization of the required
>> >>resources. The reproductive health policy does not adequately address
>> >>critical issues such as malaria in pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, especially
>> >>prevention of mother to child transmission.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The UDP/NRP Alliance will ensure a concerted and co-ordinated approach
>>to
>> >>the health sector and provide adequate resources to provide the
>>required
>> >>infrastructure. Our Government as a duty bearer will have the
>> >>responsibility to provide all the health programs. To improve the
>>health
>> >>care services the technical Staff needs training, motivation and the
>>full
>> >>equipment of all health centres with drugs and required facilities.
>> >>Access to vital specialized services, such as emergency obstetrical
>>care
>> >>will be made sufficient especially in the rural areas.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The Alliance is resolve to ensure that:
>> >>
>> >>- Medical supplies are available at all times in all
>> >>the medical facilities especially those in the rural areas. To this
>> >>effect the Drug Revolving Fund will be strengthened and rationalized to
>> >>cater for the present realities of the health sector.
>> >>
>> >>- Existing health facilities are maintained and new
>> >>ones constructed in the form of Primary health care facilities instead
>>of
>> >>hospitals to cater for additional needs of the communities.
>> >>
>> >>- Primary health care system is expanded and
>> >>consolidated to enable all citizens, especially the rural poor, to have
>> >>easy access to medical care within a 10 km radius.
>> >>
>> >>- Rural ambulance services are provided in all parts
>> >>of the country to facilitate improved evacuation of the sick and at
>>risk
>> >>pregnant women. These ambulance services will include River Ambulance
>> >>Service.
>> >>
>> >>- Priority is given to the training of personnel at
>> >>all levels from village health workers to consultant; to this effect,
>>the
>> >>existing training institutions – the SRN, SCN, CHN Schools shall be
>> >>strengthened and expanded to cater for the present shortage of Staff at
>> >>all levels and provide for the increased need in personnel concomitant
>>to
>> >>the constructions of additional health facilities.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>- Priority is given to disease prevention rather
>> >>curative care. To this effect, the School of Public Health shall be
>> >>decentralized strengthened and better endowed to enable health
>>inspectors
>> >>to implement and monitor environmental sanitation in the rural and
>>urban
>> >>areas.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>- Urgent attention is given to Disease control –
>> >>infectious an contagious diseases such as malaria and HIV/Aids through
>> >>funding, sensitization and Staff training.
>> >>
>> >>- Emphasis is given to Primary Health Care Services
>> >>for prevention rather than curative hospital base services.
>> >>
>> >>HIV/AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA
>> >>
>> >>Millennium Development Goal Six (MDG6) seeks to combat HIV/AIDS,
>>malaria
>> >>and other diseases such as Tuberculosis. The Gambia has a relatively
>>low
>> >>HIV sere prevalence. The epidemiological profile of HIV/AIDS in The
>> >>Gambia follows certain characteristics for the pandemic in Africa:
>> >>heterosexual intercourse is the main mode of HIV transmission, and the
>>age
>> >>group 20-25 experiences the highest HIV zero prevalence rates for both
>> >>males and females. Estimated HIV (1) prevalence among women aged 15-49
>> >>years attending antenatal clinic was
>> >>2.1 percent in 2004, compared to 0.6% in 1993/95. In contrast the HIV
>>(2)
>> >>prevalence rate declined from 1.1% to 0.8% over the same period. HIV
>>(1)
>> >>is now the main virus driving the epidemic in The Gambia with a
>>potential
>> >>of 25% transmission rate from mother to child, whilst HIV(2) seems to
>>be
>> >>on the decline. This epidemiological shift has repercussions because
>>HIV
>> >>(1) is more aggressive and virulent than HIV (2). However very little
>>is
>> >>known about the magnitude of paediatric AIDS. The root causes of
>>HIV/AIDS
>> >>include poverty, traditional practices such as wife inheritance and
>> >>inadequate and inappropriate information on HIV/AIDS. In 1995, the APRC
>> >>Government responded to the pandemic by issuing policy guidance that
>> >>outlined four objectives: reduce the impact of morbidity
>> >>and mortality due to HIV/AIDS, ensure basic human rights, provision of
>> >>adequate medical and social care including counseling to HIV/AIDS
>>positive
>> >>individuals and social and economic opportunities remains available to
>>HIV
>> >>positive individuals. The national HIV/AIDS policy is being reviewed,
>>and
>> >>be updated in 2006. A national HIV/AIDS strategic framework was
>>finalized
>> >>for the period 2003 to 2008. The overall goal of the plan is to
>>stabilize
>> >>and reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and provide treatment cure and
>> >>support to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In addition there is a
>> >>policy framework for the prevention of mother to child transmission of
>> >>HIV/AIDS. Various guidelines and protocols have also been developed
>>such
>> >>as national guidelines for community Home Based Care (CHBC).
>> >>The National Aids Council and National Aids Secretariat were
>>established
>> >>under the Office of the President. They are responsible
>> >>for planning, co-ordinating and monitoring the national response to
>> >>HIV/AIDS.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The above measures are not as effective as they should be. The Alliance
>> >>believes that to handle the pandemic greater attention should be given
>>to
>> >>alleviating poverty especially women poverty. Secondly the capacity of
>> >>the health service – human resources, laboratory reagents, equipments
>>and
>> >>other supplies – will be fully addressed by the Alliance to meet the
>> >>creative additional on the health system impose by HIV/AIDS. Thirdly
>>the
>> >>inadequate services to prevent mother to child transmission will be
>> >>expanded by the Alliance. Fourthly the few centres providing
>> >>anti-retroviral treatment will be increased by the Alliance. Fifthly
>>the
>> >>UDP/NRP Alliance will ensure that additional resources are provided to
>> >>support care for orphans, patients and vulnerable children including
>>the
>> >>provision of food and nutrition. Finally the ineffective co-ordination
>>of
>> >>HIV/AIDS response will be addressed and strengthened by the UDP/NRP
>> >>Alliance.
>> >>
>> >>4.14THE CHALLENGE OF WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
>> >>
>> >>The third millennium Development Goal (MDG3) strives to promote Gender
>> >>Equality and empower women. The UDP/NRP Alliance interpretation of this
>> >>goal is not the promotion of gender equality in the Western sense but
>>to
>> >>empower women to plan, initiate and implement their development
>> >>priorities. Their role as food providers, horticulturalist, tie and dye
>> >>makers etc should be enhanced by meaningful policy directives.
>>Persistent
>> >>gender inequity poses a severe obstacle to sustainable social economic
>> >>development in The Gambia. According to the 2003 census, women
>>constitute
>> >>51% of the population. Inspite of their significant
>> >>contributions to the national economy, women constitute the majority of
>> >>the poor and extremely poor in the country and their status remains
>> >>generally low, compared to men, as they face large family size, high
>> >>dependency and limited access to social services. Efforts have been
>>made
>> >>over the last decade to create an enabling legal and institutional
>> >>environment for women. The Gambia ratified the CEDAW (Convention for
>>the
>> >>Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) in 1992. A
>> >>national policy on women's empowerment was adopted in 1999. The
>>beginning
>> >>of proactive, gender sensitive policies in The Gambia can be traced to
>> >>1975 with the declaration of the International Women's Year and Decade
>> >>Since then major milestones have been the adoption of the 1997
>> >>Constitution, which for the first time in
>> >>Gambian history specifically provides for the rights of women and equal
>> >>treatment with men including equal
>> >>opportunities in political, economic and social activities and the
>> >>formulation of the National Women's Policy. Important institutional
>> >>development to implement gender sensitive policies include the
>>emergence
>> >>of the women legislator caucus in the National Assembly, the National
>> >>Women's council which is the supreme national body that provides
>>women's
>> >>participation in the development process, and the National Women's
>>Bureau
>> >>which serves as the technical arm of the council.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>However inspite of these women's empowerment has yet to reach
>> >>internationally accepted norms and standard, as structures for policies
>> >>implementation and mechanisms to measure progress are still weak due to
>> >>human resource gaps and logistical and resource constraints. With high
>> >>illiteracy rates among women, many of the members of the National
>>Women's
>> >>Council are illiterate, and they like many other women in the country
>>are
>> >>not aware of their rights or are constrained by tradition and culture
>>from
>> >>demanding or exercising their rights. While there are many women's
>> >>organizations in the country, many of them remain informal, have weak
>> >>structure, and lack organizational skills.
>> >>These facts, coupled with their low participation in politics, lack of
>> >>real economic power, mean that women lack a strong foundational
>>platform
>> >>for genuine empowerment. The UDP/NRP Alliance will start addressing the
>> >>women empowerment issue by intensifying the education of women and
>> >>inculcation in them the awareness of rights as productive members of
>>the
>> >>community. Women groups will be provided with resources and logistical
>> >>support in their productive ventures. They will be assisted to
>>strengthen
>> >>their structures and help provide them with organizational skills.
>>Under
>> >>the Alliance women will be encourage to participate in politics not as
>> >>nominated members of the National Assembly but as elected
>>representatives
>> >>able and willing to take part in decision making – The Alliance will
>>also
>> >>review subsection
>> >>(5) of the 1997 Constitution which states that women can seek
>>protection
>> >>only under customary law with regards to adoption, marriage, divorce
>>and
>> >>inheritance. This is discrimination and creates a problem and paradox
>>in
>> >>women's lives. A fundamental problem emanating from such a policy is
>>the
>> >>lack of recognition of men as key targets in the empowerment process,
>>it
>> >>thus sends the inappropriate signal that gender is about women.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The Alliance is also resolve to enhance the productive capacity of
>>women
>> >>by providing incentives to small and middle level producers. This will
>> >>allow them to overcome their poverty burden without which empowerment
>> >>cannot be achieved. We are also resolved to ensure the total
>>emancipation
>> >>of women as equal partners in all areas of development instead of being
>> >>mere recipients or beneficiaries of imposed and irrelevant projects. We
>> >>will also encourage the non-Governmental organization's (NGOS) to
>> >>implement programmes with a focus on gender. Opportunities to advance
>> >>the empowerment of women will also be reflected by an increase in
>>gender
>> >>Action Networks, NGO participation, media coverage of issues affecting
>> >>women, and special programmes that targets girls and women.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The UDP/NRP Alliance is aware of the need for gender equity programmes
>> >>through IEC activities and folk media that specifically target men.
>>Such
>> >>social development programmes must go hand in hand with efforts to
>>provide
>> >>quality education for girls continuous sensitization activities in
>>areas
>> >>where parents are less inclined to send girls to schools; investment in
>> >>secondary and tertiary education for girls, improved literacy and
>>skills
>> >>training for women, exposure to information and communication
>>technologies
>> >>(ICT), support to women in agriculture and promote women in decision
>> >>making and political position for a more
>> >>people centred approach. Mainstreaming gender requires institutional
>> >>norms; practices and structures must now change to accommodate women.
>> >>There is also need for the harmonization of various international
>> >>conventions and protocols, especially CEDAW, with the existing national
>> >>laws so as to give credence and possibility to address some of the
>>gender
>> >>imbalances. Our Government will also ensure that intervention are put
>>in
>> >>place to implement the recommendations of the UN committee of CRC
>> >>(Convention of the Rights of the Child) and CEDAW. This will encompass
>> >>the enactment of laws to protect women and children from harmful
>> >>traditional practices (early marriages, exploitation, trafficking,
>> >>prostitution, domestic violence) and a review of the Constitution to
>> >>remove ambiguities regarding gender equality.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>4.V THE CHALLENGES OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
>> >>
>> >>4.V1 THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The Seventh MDG (Ensure Environmental Sustainability) has three
>> >>subcomponents that are being tackled in The Gambia. These are Target 9
>> >>(integrate the principle of sustainable development into country
>> >>programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources), Target 10
>> >>(Halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to
>>safe
>> >>drinking water) and Target 11 (By 2020 to ensure that we have achieved
>>a
>> >>significant improvement in the lives of at least all Slum dwellers) In
>> >>the case of the latter, the emphasis is on improving the proportion of
>>the
>> >>Gambian population that has access to improved sanitation.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>In the provision of water, many water supply projects executed provide
>> >>160,000 people with wells and boreholes. Another 130,000 people in
>>rural
>> >>and peri-urban areas are planned to receive water supply. This is
>>rather
>> >>inadequate and the UDP/NRP Alliance will ensure the tripling of this
>> >>volume so that 90% of the urban population and 95% of the rural
>>population
>> >>will have access to safe drinking water.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>With regards to sanitation, the main issues which constitute major
>> >>environmental hazards are waste management, especially in urban areas,
>>and
>> >>the safe disposal of excreta, better management of land fills and
>> >>monitoring of surface and ground water. This has been exacerbated by
>>high
>> >>population growth around urban centre, with little or no urban
>>planning,
>> >>and with a lack of resources to deal with the inevitable rise in waste
>> >>generated. At the industrial level, there is failure to operationalise
>> >>the "polluter pays" principle partly for fear that this would increase
>> >>production costs substantially and discourage potential investors.
>> >>
>> >>The UDP/NRP Alliance will ensure that sound urban planning is carried
>>out
>> >>addressing specific land use such as waste disposal sites. The Bakoteh
>> >>Waste disposal site will be condemned and relocated outside the urban
>> >>settlement area. Instead of insisting on the monthly cleansing exercise
>>…
>> >>"Operation Clean the Nation" we will ensure the regular transportation
>>of
>> >>refuse and identify ideal sites for disposal.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>On forestry resources, participatory forestry management will be
>> >>intensified with an inbuilt poverty reduction strategy that includes
>>the
>> >>sale of forestry products. With regards to biodiversity, the percentage
>> >>of land areas under protection to improve biodiversity will have to be
>> >>increased from 4/1% in 2003 to 8% in 2010. Our Government will also
>> >>embark on a comprehensive inventory of flora and fauna of the country,
>> >>from which a plan for the sustainable exploitation of the country'
>>natural
>> >>resources can be developed and implemented.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Rapid population growth as wall as the inadequate planning and
>>management
>> >>of population settlements and rural out migration are the immediate
>>causes
>> >>of threats to sustainable environment management in The Gambia. Because
>>a
>> >>large proportion of the population depends on the country's national
>> >>resources for their livelihood – crop farming, animal husbandry,
>>fishing,
>> >>fuel wood harvesting – coupled with the use of land and forest products
>> >>like timber in housing construction, the national resources are being
>> >>depleted at a rapid rate. The underlying cause can be attributed to a
>> >>failure by the APRC central and local Government authorities to
>>integrate
>> >>the principle of sustainable development into country programs
>> >>and development initiatives, and this is aggravated by the fact the
>> >>sectoral policy objectives and activities often seem to be at conflict
>> >>with each other. For instance, sand minning for construction industry
>> >>has had an adverse impact on the erosion of beaches that are
>>indispensable
>> >>for the tourism industry, similarly, the interest to attract foreign
>> >>investment often translate into environmental impact assessments not
>>being
>> >>carried out properly. The root caused can be attributed to Government
>> >>agencies that are ill-equipped (equipment, human resources etc) to
>> >>undertake the
>> >>tasks expected of them, a population that is not sensitized to the
>> >>importance of environmental conservation and a lack of understanding
>>and
>> >>political will among the country's decision makers.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The U.D.P/N.R.P Alliance will ensure the full equipment of government
>> >>agencies to undertake the task expected of them. The Alliance will also
>> >>insist on the sensitization of the population on the importance of
>> >>environmental conservation. The necessary political will should also be
>> >>manifested by the government.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>4.vii THE CHALLENGE OF GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
>> >>
>> >>This requires a commitment to good Governance, development and poverty
>> >>reduction – Both nationally and internationally. Two of the main
>> >>challenges to poverty reduction in The Gambia are in the areas of
>>economic
>> >>and political governance. The inability of the APRC Government to
>>provide
>> >>essential economic and social infrastructure, hire and maintain a
>> >>competent and motivated civil service and effectively implement poverty
>> >>reduction programmes cam be linked to the pall city of Government
>> >>revenue. A recent report by the Millennium Challenge Corporation
>> >>indicated that the country fell short
>> >>in a number of governance indicators such as management of state
>>assets,
>> >>government effectiveness, and accountability. In addition the national
>> >>assembly is not effectively performing its oversight roles and
>> >>responsibilities, particularly in the national budget formulation
>>process
>> >>and public expenditure controls.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>It is however our strong conviction that for economic governance
>> >>programmes to be successful in the long term there must also be an
>> >>improved political governance programme.
>> >>
>> >>Although the APRC Government has recognized that improved political
>> >>governance is essential for poverty reduction their action in this area
>> >>has been disappointing. A national governance policy was adopted in
>>1999
>> >>and further developments, include the promulgation of the local
>>Government
>> >>Act of 2002 (which was amended in 2003) and the Local Government
>>Finance
>> >>and Audit Act of 2004 which provide a legal basis for political and
>>fiscal
>> >>decentralization in The Gambia. However a under the APRC regime
>>advances
>> >>on the legislative front have been offset by the number of violations
>>in
>> >>the areas of human rights, most notably those concerning freedom of the
>> >>Press.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Outstanding issues about Press freedom include the enacting of media
>>laws
>> >>that we view as attempts by Government to limit the investigative
>>ability
>> >>of Gambian Journalists, and the fact that although police
>>investigations
>> >>are ongoing, there have been no arrest in a number of attacks on media
>> >>houses and Journalists. These attacks include five cases of arson
>> >>directed against Journalists in privately owned media houses since
>>2001.
>> >>In December 2004, the publisher of a leading local news paper (The
>>Point)
>> >>was murdered, and no one has yet been charged in this case.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>A UDP/NRP Alliance will repeal the obnoxious Media Act and vigorously
>> >>investigate and bring to book the perpetrators of all acts of violence
>> >>against the media fraternity. The UDP/NRP Alliance resolves to
>>encourage
>> >>the full and unfettered development of a free, vibrant and responsible
>> >>Press especially in the private sector by:
>> >>
>> >>- According full recognition to the Press as an indispensable
>> >>partner in democracy, good governance and the development process of
>>our
>> >>nation;
>> >>
>> >>- Expeditiously repeal all obnoxious Degrees and Laws inimical to
>> >>the independence and freedom of the Press especially Decrees No 70/71
>> >>which have muzzled the Press since their introduction;
>> >>
>> >>- Doing everything to ensure the freedom and the protection of
>> >>practitioners of this noble profession to enable them to effectively
>> >>fulfil their role;
>> >>
>> >>- Developing a comprehensive national media policy to guarantee
>> >>freedom and the right to information to all Gambians;
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>The Governance issues faced by The Gambia, must be seen in the context
>>of
>> >>a variety of capacity and resource constraints and the need for the
>> >>political will to address the concerns of the country's development
>> >>partners. An immediate cause for the ongoing problems in the areas of
>> >>economic and political governance is the lack of a competent and
>>motivated
>> >>civil service that is committed to effectively implementing poverty
>> >>reduction programs based on the principles of performance based
>> >>management. The underlying causes can be traced to insufficient
>> >>incentives to recruit and retain competent technical Staff in the civil
>> >>service, job insecurity and absence of an independent civil service
>> >>authority that is free from outside political
>> >>influence. The root cause of the governance issues confronted by The
>> >>Gambia can be traced to the absence of meaningful debate on the
>> >>development issues facing the country, a lack of transparency and
>> >>accountability among leading decision makers and the widespread
>>perception
>> >>that all decisions are made by the State House (i.e the President) and
>> >>opinions that are contrary are done so at ones peril. This has the
>>effect
>> >>of limiting discussion of policy options and promotes a tendency
>>towards
>> >>"short term quick fix" solutions when a more structural approach to
>> >>Gambia's development problems is required.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Under the UDP/NRP Alliance economic and political Governance will be
>> >>accorded the priority it deserves. Given the IMF Article IV
>>consultations
>> >>and various World Bank Reports on the economic performance of The
>>Gambia,
>> >>and the general state of economic Governance, in the country, It is
>> >>important that our Alliance to focus on economic governance issues:
>> >>transparency, accountability, probity, disciplined fiscal and monetary
>> >>policies as well as strengthening of the internal controls at the
>> >>Central Bank of The Gambia. Issues of political governance such as
>> >>decentralization, Press freedom, increasing the political space and
>>public
>> >>participation, as well as increasing the capacity and effectiveness of
>>the
>> >>legislature branches of Government, will be critical for the Alliance
>> >>Government.
>> >>
>> >>(b) THE CHALLENGE OF CONSTITUTIONALITY
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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>> >>
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