Spoken to the UGOA, presented by APRC-Atlanta. Speech delivered by M. Sanneh on behalf of the executive body. Mr. Chairman, Hon. Speakers, Organizing committee of the United Gambian Organization of Atlanta (UGOA), Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, my Fellow Gambians. On behalf of the APRC Atlanta Branch, It is our great honor and privilege; to come here this evening to present some fundamental socio-economic development, undergoing in the Gambia under the wise leadership of President Alhagi Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh and the APRC government. Before going any further, Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to extend to this gathering and the entire Gambian people, the APRC Atlanta branch’s, commitment under the wise chairmanship Mr. Salifu Jallow toward nation building and reconciliation. Having said that my friends. I want to tell you briefly about the Gambia under the second republic. Foremost I must say, this was a country that was in doubt when she agitated for her independence in 1965. Today, my friends, under a young and dynamic leadership led by H.E. President Yahya Jammeh, no one doubts the Gambia’s ability to manage her own affairs and maintain herself as an independent sovereign nation. The armed forces provisional ruling council (AFPRC) was formed to lead the Gambia through a transition period, which would lead to the establishment of the second republic. In December of 1994, “AFPRC” Chairman Yahya Jammeh established a national consultation committee (NCC) which was given the mandate to conduct a nation wide consultation with the Gambian people on the timetable for the transition. The Gambian people through the NCC voiced their preference for a two-year timetable instead of the four years originally envisioned by the “AFPRC”. The AFPRC accepted the recommendation of the NCC, and presidential elections were scheduled for July 1996. Although, this was later postponed until September, when a British Company, with the mandate to assist with voter registration materials and to train registration teams fell behind schedule. In preparation for the establishment of the Second Republic, a new constitution was drafted. After thorough debate and review by all concerned citizens, an amendment was put before the Gambian people in a National referendum with a voter turnout of 86%, Gambians overwhelmingly voted to approve the new constitution on August 8, 1996. The new constitution provided for the separation of powers and established checks and balances among the various branches of government. The constitution also lowers the voting age guarantees the independence of the media and protects the rights of women, children and the disabled. The September 26 presidential election in the Gambia was deemed free and fair by the Gambia’s provisional Independent Electoral Commission (PREC). The commission had been called for by the new constitution to prepare and pave the way for the elections near by among other activities carrying out civic education programs, requesting donor assistance and obtaining participation by international election observers. The election, was monitored by eighty international election observers. The multi-party election was peaceful and voter turnout was high. There were no irregularities reported at the pools. Candidates from four political parties competed in the presidential elections of September 26. Yahya Jammeh, the “AFPRC” Chairman received 56% of the votes while Ousainou Darboe, a prominent lawyer and vice Chairman of the Gambia bar association received 36% of the votes. The two independent candidates shared the remaining 8% of the votes. President Jammeh was sworn in as the first president of the second republic in October 18 1996. I am also glad to add that the president was returned to office in October of 2001 with a resounding mandate. The final step Ladies and Gentlemen in concluding the Gambia’s transition to democracy and the establishment of the second Republic was the national assembly elections. All four political parties competed in the parliamentary elections, which were held on January 2, 1997. The elections were peaceful and was observed by international monitor teams. President Jammeh’s party APRC won 33 of the 45 seats while Mr. Darboe’s UDP party won 7 seats. The party of national reconciliation won 2 seats and PDOIS won 1 seat. 2 independent candidates rounded out the 45 seats filled in the election. In addition, President Jammeh appointed another 4 including the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker bringing the total number of members of parliament to 49. All 4 registered political parties; as well as independent legislators are represented in the National Assembly. With the transition to democracy completed, the Jammeh administration has summarized its aspirations for the Second Republic in an official mission. “To transform the Gambia into a financial center, a tourist paradise, a trading export, oriented agricultural and manufacturing nation, thriving on free market policies and a vibrant private sector, sustained by a well educated trained, skilled, healthy, self-reliant and enterprising population and guaranteeing a well balanced Eco-system and a decent standard of living for one and all, under a system of government based on the consent of the citizenry. To accomplish this task, the government of the Gambia, in collaboration with the private sector has begun the implementation of a comprehensive plan to transform the country socially, economically and scientifically over the next quarter century to be completed by the year 2020. A cardinal aspect of this plan christened vision 2020 is emphasized on the private sector as the engine of growth. My fellow Gambians, to compensate for decades of neglect the Gambia has embarked on a multi million dollar series of ambitious, far reaching Socio-development projects, which are of practical everyday use to the Gambian people. Since 1994, the Gambia government has expanded and improved the country’s communication network, including building numerous bridges, drainage ditches and pipelines. As Doctor Saine mentioned in his presentation, I quote “The highway from Barra to Kerrewan is paved with a bridge at Kerewan to Farafene and beyond. The same is true from Serrekunda to Soma in the South Bank. While the stretch between soma and basse is relatively good.” “The coastal highway system from Brufut connects Gunjur and Kartong and other outlying towns and villages.” The government has boasted the strength of the country’s national radio station to cover the entire country. The government has established the country’s first television station. The government has funded the construction of clinics, and construction of major hospitals for the rural areas. The government has opened over dozen middle and high schools in both rural and urban areas. The government has renovated Banjul’s Seaport to meet worldwide maritime standards. The government has modernized and upgraded the facilities at the Yundum International Airport to meet international aviation standards. The government has established the Gambia's First University System, which is in full course and ready to grant Bachelor’s degrees in respective fields. The Government has completed beautification projects such as Arch 22, and impressive 115-foot landmark, which serves as the gateway to Banjul. The Monument named after the July 22, 1994 change houses the national museum and an art gallery. Ladies and Gentlemen, as a developing country, the Gambia has welcomed all efforts by friendly nations, which are interested in contributing to its development. The Gambia has welcomed the technical and medical assistance of doctors provided by Cuba, which also provides Doctors and medical assistance to other developing countries. Although the Gambia is a non-aligned country and the developmental assistance received is economically oriented rather than politically motivated. The Gambia government has very generous and investor friendly economic policies. The economy has been opened to greater private sector participation, and tax policies have been developed to achieve a simplified system for granting incentives to foreign investors. Foreign investors do not need Gambian partners in order to invest and there are no restrictions on the repatriation of profits of capital as long as all required taxes are paid. The Gambia seeks to be investment heaven in Africa. Ladies and Gentlemen, we live in a world of increasing interdependence among countries. No country can achieve any meaningful Socio-economic development in isolation. At the same time, no country cannot develop without peace and stability. Therefore the foreign policy goals of the Second Republic of the Gambia will be to adopt a more pro-active role in international affairs with aim of mobilizing greater support for the country’s development. Ladies and Gentlemen the focal points of the Gambia foreign policy objectives stands not only from the desire to ensure national security, but also to ensure economic development assistance. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Gambia under the umbrella of the APRC administration, will continue to participate fully with global, regional and sub-regional bodies in the implementation of programs, and plans to enhance the Gambia’s position in the international scene, under the APRC regime. Special attention has been given to increasing co-operation among other developing countries as well as improving collaboration without West African neighbors. As a member of ECOWAS the Gambia is fully complying with ECOWAS protocols on the implementation of free movement of goods, capital and labor within the integrating markets of the sixteen Ecowas member states. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Second Republic is also looking for international donor organizations to provide assistance in developing the Gambia. In particular, the Second Republic hopes to be a trusted friend to the west. With the dissolution of the AFPRC and the establishment of the Second Republic, any apprehension the west may have had about the state of democracy in the Gambia should be put to rest. The President and the legislators in the national assembly are directly elected representatives of the Gambian citizens. The Second Republic is a functioning multi party democracy, which is responsive to the needs of its people. The Second Republic is ensuring that the Gambia continues to participate in peace making and peace enforcement operations on the African continent as well as elsewhere in the world. My brothers and sisters, to conclude, the Second Republic is committed to being a responsible member of the international community and is actively engaged in promoting co-operation and understanding among nations. The Second Republic is currently and will remain a member of the United Nations and all its principal organs. The organization of African Unity (OAU) and the British Commonwealth of Nations among other entities. My Fellow Gambians, Chairman Jallow, honorable speakers, members of the United Gambian Organization of Atlanta (UGOA), on behalf of the APRC Atlanta branch I wish to conclude with a school of thought to all Gambians at home and abroad regardless of our political differences to reconcile and work together towards the national development for the Gambia our homeland. Thank you. _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~