By Adama Jallow
The Vice President, Dr Alieu Badara Joof has told the cabinet ministers and service chiefs that they want to get it right for the next five years in all the sectors, particularly with tight security while the Ports should fix the issue of illegal lugging of timbers or they are answerable to government.
He pointed out these concerns at the just concluded two days maiden cabinet retreat. “This government wants to get it right for the next five years,” he emphasised. With consideration to the significance of righteousness in good governance, the Vice President disclosed that it is a moral obligation to say the truth and when the truth is been said, it becomes a pleasure and that he (the vice president) drives pleasure in telling people the truth no matter what.
Joof further urged all Gambians to be one with a common goal and in national interest, adding that Gambians are interrelated either by marriage, religion, education, ethnicity and regions. Regarding migration, he pointed out that the most important thing somebody has in life is his or her life.
“If you act out your life in the Sahara desert, only perhaps not to reach the source of Mediterranean and die or get enslaved and tortured in some Mediterranean countries or drown in the waters of the Mediterranean. And even if you are lucky to cross to Europe, you are told that you are not wanted because you are put in some camps, in barbwires or walled out. That is a serious issue we have to look at and readdress, it also has a negative impact in the country because your tomorrow is the youths, the labor force, the effective and competent of the labor force is migrating,” he reminded the gathering.
The Vice President suggested that they should revisit the policies in all sectors such as the tourism industry, education, employment, fisheries and employment among others.
With significance to the availability of land to human, he encouraged the Minister of Land to impose at least an embargo for the next two to three years on foreign estate learn developments, reassess the land policy, to give at least 90 to 95 percent of the land to Gambians for homes and shelter, adding that is it is human rights, that there is also the need for land banking for tourism, agriculture, and for fish farming., while he called on everyone for the wise management of the land. The Vice President also highlighted that it is the duty of the government to protect minority rights to avoid some crisis and instability.
