By: S. M Touray
Minister of Tourism and Culture Hamat Bah, has criticized opposition parties and leaders for failing the Gambian people by not measuring up to their expectations.
He told a political rally on Saturday in Brikama that President Adama Barrow was elected and issued with a certificate by returning to office of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on the mandate of 5years not 3years.
Bah a devoted support of President Barrow’s bid to stay until 2021, saying that the government is not troubled by the so-called 3years Junta campaigners.
He noted that there are rules and regulations that govern this country that should be respected by all.
“We are not worried about citizens wanting to protest, we are in a democratic era and they have a right to demonstrate but the minister of interior have make it clear you must follow due process of the law and the law is here for everyone. Nobody will be maltreated as long as you follow the due process of the law,” Bah stated.
He pointed out that the unfortunate thing for the country is that the oppositions are failing in their responsibilities owe to the Gambians
Bah launched the attacked on his colleagues few weeks after opposition leader Mama Kandeh of the Gambia Democratic Party (GDC), attack President Barrow deviating from the three years agreement he entered into with his coalition partners.
In his augment, Mama Kandeh urged President Adama Barrow to honour the 3years agreement he entered into with coalition partners and handover power.
Bah also observed that Gambian opposition parties have now given out its responsibility to the media, saying that it’s the media that is now playing the role of the opposition parties in holding the government accountable on transparency.
He added: “This is the role that is expected to be played by the opposition parties but they are not doing it, for them everything is Barrow.”
According to him, all what the opposition parties are doing is creating allegation attacking personality of the President but not scrutinising the government nor its agenda and ministers.
“The opposition we have here are not talking about issues affecting the welfare of the Gambian people; they are not taking government to task on issues that will ensure that we are doing the right thing for this country.
Taking government to task on issues is the role of a genuine opposition party in a democratic era,” he stressed.
The NRP leader observed that the opposition parties have an important role to play in the democratic dispensation of the country, stating that this is why they are recognised by the law.
Bah stressed that this is not happening in Gambia and leaders are not exposing, so they are failing in their responsibilities.
He reiterated that President Barrow’s administration will not fail in its responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of the Gambian people, noting that as long as citizens want to protest they must ensure that they also adhere to the existing laws of the country.
“We are not panicking about the 3years Junta, we are not worried about that because we remain solid and firm on the ground and we maintain security and protect Gambians at every level in this country,” Bah warned 3years Junta Campaigners.
He submitted that President Barrow will not waiver in his duties to protect and preserve the integrity of this country, adding that in doing so nobody will be treated above the law.