UDP RALLY AT SERRE KUNDAAuthor: Publisher | Date: 26-10-09 | Topic: National News
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What did the police superintendent tell Femi Peters?
Up to 700 people assembled to witness the rally of the The United Democratic Party (UDP), on Saturday 25 October, 2009, held at Ebony, Serre Kunda Central. Just before Mr Darboe took the podium to speak Superintendent Jawo did approach Femi Peters for a discussion and then left. It is not clear what he told Mr. Peters. It is also not clear whether the security personnel at certain junctions were placed there in connection with the departure of the President to Qatar. We are still investigating to know the facts. The meeting did go on without interruption.
In addressing the rally, Ousainou Darboe the leader of the party, told the gathering that the days when the party will fail to hold a rally simply because they are not given a permit by the police is gone. Mr Darboe stressed that whether permit is granted or not, the UDP will hold their rallies accordingly because it is their constitutional right and they will not allow anybody to violate it, be it the police, the army or any state agent. He argued that the UDP has been applying for permits which the Inspector General of Police has never honoured. He cited the case of the Minority Leader Hon.Momodou K.Sanneh, Member for Kiang West and the Inspector General of Police. Mr Darboe concluded on this issue by assuring the gathering that on the first Saturday after Tobaski (the Muslim feast of thanks-giving) whether they have a permit or not they will hold a rally.
On the issue of GRTS, Darboe told the gathering that it is being run by the Gambian people’s money but that they are only concerned with covering events at Kanilai. He said quite often one sees the Director General of GRTS Momodou Sanyang sitting beside the president but they were not covering the rally of the UDP even though issues of national interest would be raised. He assured the gathering that he will take the matter up with the Director of GRTS.
On the issue of Agriculture, Darboe told the gathering that Agriculture was said to be the backbone of the country and any president that be, should take it as a duty to develop it but in the case of President Jammeh, he is using it for the interest of his family. He told the gathering that the president has ten (10) farms, managed by soldiers who are paid from the national coffers; he uses the labour of the people and then give them crumbs from the proceeds as charity. Darboe told the gathering that the proper thing for the Government to do is to provide fertilizer and seeds to farmers for them to work on communal farms where they will produce for themselves. He told the gathering that this year, the Government provided fertilizer to the farmers at a time when the farmers do not need it.
On the issue of the youth, Darboe told the gathering that it is unfair to say that youths are lazy or do not want to work. He said if one follows the recruitment in the police or in the army, one would discover that it is the youth who are always there showing interest; that they have to get work. He said the reality is that the opportunity is not there for the youth to get work.
On the issue of the meat shortage, Darboe told the gathering that there is meat shortage in the Gambia because Jammeh has threatened the butchers in this country. He told the gathering that that is the cause of the meat shortage in the country.
On the issue of the flood victims, Darboe told the gathering that Jammeh has given US$700,000 (Equivalent to D18.2million) to the Taiwanese victims while less than D2 million was given to the Gambian victims. He questioned whether that is having concern for one’s own people? He alleged that the president has indicated that the youths who go to Europe through the back way are the once tarnishing the image of his Government. Darboe told the gathering that those tarnishing the image of the Government are the state agents themselves and not the youths.
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