Yesterday in Banjul, a significant number of Gambians, predominantly youth, took to the
streets with unwavering determination to voice their opposition to the Judicial Officers Bill and the National Assembly Salaries and Pensions Bill. Their resolute demands were the withdrawal of these bills, fair compensation for public servants, equitable resource allocation, and accountability for National Assembly members. They also called for a new pay scale to ensure better salaries for key workers. The group issued a stern warning of further protests if their demands were not met.
The protest was a powerful display of unity orchestrated by a group of young Gambians known as Concerned Gambians. They initiated the protest at Born Road and led the march to the National Assembly gate, where they formally presented their petition letter to the speaker of the National Assembly, Fabakary Tombong Jatta.
In Lamin's statement, "Consider the plight of teachers and not to self-enrichment; Equal Rights and Justice for all Gambians", you were elected to represent the interest of your people and not to enrich yourself" The judiciary is not more important than the educational sector. The bill must be dropped; the civil servants were hungry, and the protesters carried different inscriptions.
Lamin Manneh, who represented the protesters, spoke after submitting their petition letter at the Assembly. "I believe that the members of the National Assembly have decided to operate unconstitutionally." Section 112, subsection (b) of the 1997 constitution of The Gambia, he said, clearly stipulated that "ll members shall regard themselves servants of the people of The Gambia; desist from any conduct by which they seek improperly to enrich themselves or alienate themselves from the people, and shall discharge their duties and functions in the interest of the nation as a whole and in doing so, shall be influenced by the dictates of conscience and national interest."
The number of protests in African countries has more than doubled in the past five years. While most protests are peaceful, some escalate into riots, impacting communities and changing government institutions, as seen in Kenya, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. These protests continue a tradition of civil resistance against oppression, from post-World War II movements to recent pressure on longstanding dictators. Hopefully, African dictators and governments that think they are untouchable will learn and listen to the cries of their people. Change is in the air.
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