Sister Jabou,
Apologies if I appear to distract attention. My goal as in the subject
line is to present an opportunity for self-assessment. Why PDOIS? It
could have been UDP or NRP. I chose PDOIS because I am more familiar
with PDOIS leadership and program than other parties. While I have not
met uncle Seedia or Sister Amie Sillah, I know brother Halifa
personally and have been a student of Mr. Sam Sarr for a school yr. I
know these are genuine, descent people. I know all three gentlemen and
lady have given-up their very good Gambian jobs and careers to live the
PDOIS dream. They chose to start the PDOIS political to help elevate
the Gambian people. I do not believe they went into it just to waste
their time. Its been 23yrs since they began this journey and I think it
is in every Gambian's interest including their own to examine where we
stand, what worked, what did not work and why.
Rene
PDOIS may have had to put up with Jawara and now Jammeh incumbent
machinery, so did others. My point is why did the followers of the
disbanded PPP decide to create UDP instead of joining the PDOIS
bandwagon? We know from demographics that the Gambian electorate has
changed since 1987. We now have more people who can read and write than
in 1987. More people are out of school and jobless. Farmers are worst
off than ever. While these changes may suggest a generally favorable
environment for a group like PDOIS, records do not show that. What is
the problem? I sometimes hear people blame tribal politics. This claim
does not stand test. Uncle Seedia's Mandinka root is deeper than anyone
in Gambian politics. No one will tell you brother Halifa or Mr. Sarr are
more Banjulian than Lawyer Darbo or O.J. The problem is PDOIS's decision
not to use Asobee politics (call it politics of patronage). What this
does is to make local power-brokers feel left-out and thus suspicious
and sometime outright rejection of PDOIS. Without local power-brokers
PDOIS would not gain traction in the province. After all with every
educated folk migrating to the urban areas leaving behind generally
poor, illiterate and old population, it is not hard to imagine that
voter composition in rural districts remained fairly the same since
Jamano UP.
I believe this assessment is essential if PDOIS is to grow under current
environment or the goal of united opposition is to be realized. By the
way votes are the only metrics that count in parliamentary democracy.
Malanding Jaiteh
Jabou Joh wrote:
> Well Rene, we all hope for a discourse on how to move our country
> forward, but as exemplified by Malanding's statements, instead of
> trying to concentrate our efforts and energies on how to forge a way
> to unite all opposition parties to dislodge a tyrant, we are once more
> into a discussion as how to justify why PDOIS still exists given the
> small percentage of votes they have received in elections. It would
> appear then that there is considerable effort and energies being
> directed at this and one has to wonder why some people feel that PDOIS
> has to justify their existence. What does thid do for the Gambia and
> why is it so important for this discussion to take place and what is
> it's purpose?
> Jabou Joh
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Malanding Jaiteh <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Wed, Jul 29, 2009 1:03 pm
> Subject: Opportunity for self-assessment?
>
> Rene,
> I would agree that PDOIS, has for many years been very clear about
> their agenda, aims and objectives, and the principles that that guide
> the conduct of its members and activities.
>
> That said, PDOIS has been in existence since 1986. After 23 years,
> under two very different incumbents (Jawara and Jammeh), fielding
> candidates in 5 Parliamentary and/or Presidential elections, PDOIS
> remains largely an out of the main stream political party. Even among
> the educated elite, who had been reading the Foroyaa, the party
> newspaper, the party is painted with with Communist/socialist brush
> from the Jawara era.
>
> I know very few who doubt the sincerity of Messrs Jatta, Sallah and
> Sarr or their commitment to spend all their being for a democratic
> Gambia. However, it is not hard to find those who would not vote for
> them. Those who would say Halifa / or Seedia are good descent people
> but I do not trust PDOIS. My problem is why this disparity? More
> importantly why is the party unable to grow its share of votes (under
> 5% the last time I checked) over the past 23 yrs? What is the PDOIS
> end game? Is it a PDOIS majority in government or an political
> educated Gambian electorate even if such a group chose some other party?
>
> Malanding
>
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Aunty Jabou,
> > Just imagine; PDOIS supposedly has no strong following, > but has
> managed to be in the public consciousness and the political > debate
> for more than two decades. And there are no signs that this >
> enthusiasm and commitment will abate soon. One of the reasons why this
> > has been the case, is the fact that first and foremost, PDOIS has a
> > political argument to make; and secondly, it has been able to >
> articulate that argument clearly and conceptually. > > If we move away
> from personalities, and the individual > who make most of the
> arguments on behalf of PDOIS, Halifa Sallah, and > look at PDOIS from
> the standpoint of its political, social, cultural > and economic
> positions, we will then begin to appreciate the huge > contributions
> in our national political debate that the party has been > able to
> make, in the quest for a political alternative or solution > from the
> first republic to the second republic.
> > > The first thing that everyone should note is that PDOIS > has an
> agenda. It has its aims and objectives. It has principles that > guide
> the conduct and affairs of its members and activities. It has an >
> agenda based on programs that it would implement whenever it succeeds
> > to take over the reigns of government. It has a programs based agenda.
> > > PDOIS's agenda, aims and objectives, and the principles > that
> guide the conduct of its members and activities, have been >
> stipulated variously in their myriad of publications over the years. >
> It is my hope that those who want to state a different position will >
> take issue with their agenda; or their aims and objectives and in so >
> doing, give impetus to the evolution of a political thought process >
> that can help to shape the discourse on politics. This will also >
> make the awakening of our political consciousness more appreciable. >
> > I cannot wait to learn more from the different > postulations;
> different ideas and conceptions. This is the kind of > political
> discourse I am yearning for.
> > > Rene >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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