By Nyima Sillah
The AfriCare Initiative (TAI) in collaboration with other peace advocates in The Gambia have Initiative has organized a peace conference in collaboration with other peace advocates on 16th November, 2019 at the Coral Beach Hotel.
The two days national dialogue conference in Banjul is meant to discourse issues relating to the maintenance of peace and reconcile divided Gambians ahead of the proposed December protest which might bring chaos and destabilize the peace of the nation.
It was held under the theme: ”Rethinking and acting on the situations of the new Gambia sensitization on peaceful co-existence ahead of December 2019”
Among other things, The Peace Conference aims at building capacities and strengthening engagement of Civil Society Organizations, three years/five years ‘Jotna’ Groups, government agencies, UN Agencies and other concerned institutions in The Gambia on a national discourse on the state of the matter ahead of the planned ‘December Protest.’
Speaking at the event, Ms. Marie Socks Executive Director The AfriCare Initiative explained that the initiative is all about trying to bring the country together, impact lives, and bringing us back from where we were.
She pointed out that the conference seeks to promote and strengthen youth leadership skills for good governance and democracy.
She added that it will also enhance the participation of young people in decision making skills and electoral processes promote human rights and related concepts “and as well encourage women to participate in democratic processes.”
“We need something like this because it makes all the youths and political parties to come out and have a national dialogue on issues of national interest,”
Tala Camara, National Youth Council representative noted that, their mandate is to implement programs for young people in this country monitor their programs and advice government on youth matters.
“As youths, it’s our responsibility to jealousy guard the peace we have, because without peace there will be no development and without peace young people will be affected,”
Gambia is known for peace! The reason behind the smiling cost is because we are peaceful. It is our fundamental right to go out and protest but let’s protest peacefully and let peace prevail.
Ebrima Sorriba, secretary General 5years for peace building said that, the reason that warranted The Gambia for 5years peace building is simple to avoid the theme that we are hiding.
He explained that nurturing and maintenance of peace is a public responsibility for every Gambian irrespective of whatever grudges one may have, irrespective of whatever problems one may have and irrespective of their political and sociological believes.
He stated that The Gambia for 5years is not been packs by the government or the President, adding that he reason behind this organization is because the coalition parties comes to them to amend and revoke a very convention that says 3years.
“The consequence of 3years jotna protest is the reason why we should discuss dialogue. If demonstration should happen, government will defend itself and perceive it as serious and there is no guarantee that such protest is going to be peaceful,”
According to him, the economic sector is seriously affected such as the tourism sector because of the 3years ”jotna” if the protest turns out to be violence, the education sector will be affected and also the business sectors.
He noted that the protest can lead to closure of lot of international business within the communities
