Culled from The Point


Friday, August 10, 2001



  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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