Sidia S. Jatta, chairman of the People’s Democratic Organisation of Independent and Socialism has described ‘begging’ as a fundamental contributor to poverty.
“Begging will never change any body’s poverty. In fact begging is a fundamental contributing factor of poverty. It is neither good for the giver nor the receiver,” he said at his party’s national congress held at Ngayen Sanjal North Bank Region on Saturday.
Hon. Jatta who doubles as the National Assembly Member for Wuli West said that the only way to transform this country is to transform the agricultural sector.
He said: “When we started this party, the task to which we committed ourselves is to lay lasting foundation for a party that will become a fundamental instrument for transformation of this country.”
Jatta also said that the congress is in essence of the young people, noting that the congress is a beginning of a new beginning because it is where discussion on how to chart destiny of the Gambia is being made.
The message of PDOIS since the establishment to date has been consistent. He tasked the delegates and invitees to disseminate the messages of the congress with efficiency and consistency to the people.
Jatta said unemployment and poverty remain and are still amplifying, adding that farmers still cry for better life.
Jatta stated that the price for the farm produce declared by the government cannot reduce the poverty of farmers in the country.
Amie Sillah-Sarr, the head of the PDOIS Bureau of Women and Child Affairs said the young people should ensure that they stand by the principles of PDOIS and never change.
She said: “It is our belief that if you cut our hands we will still hold on, if you cut our legs we will still march on and if you cut our lips we will still speak out; no turning back. No turning back.”
She added that the country has everything that it needs to develop including natural and human resources.
“Gambia has everything and no one should come and full us that the Gambia is poor,” she said.
She added that the party has been saying that the Gambia is not a poor country and this has been reveal in the ongoing commissions.
“Gambia has money what we lack is good governance. Gambians should know that we are sovereign and we should know ourselves and know the world then we shall be the architect our own destiny,” she said.