By Yusupha Jobe
Gambians in different works of life have expressed their frustrations and anger following the Saturday’s comment made by the Vice President Dr Isatou Touray in regards to the loading and offloading of government Covid-19 food relief package meant for the Gambia people.
In her statement, VP Touray disclosed that the loading and offloading of those food items were done by foreign nationals without the participation of the citizen.
This lamentation did not went well among many Gambians who have took time to replied through social media, especially on Facebook as most of them posted numerous comments.
Among the posted comments are written by –
The Ward Councillor of Gunjur, Momodou Gibba in his post wrote: “The youths did not change the government of Yahya Jammeh only to become labourers. We expect far more than this statement and if the government is unable to address the plight of the youths it will be utterly disingenuous to rant on them while your sons and daughters are in their comfort homes. We look up to you not only as the Vice President but mother of the nation.” he stated.
Kemo Conteh: “I found it shocking and laughable when the Vice President the NO. 2 in command of our country described loading and offloading of bags of rice on human heads as a great and dignified job. This statement is utterly discriminately and manifests the lack of strategy to alleviate youth unemployment in the country. It is truly laughable and shocking that the Vice President of the country is describing the work of loading and offloading of bags of rice as dignified.
The government must think to provide its citizens with decent and technical works by building and encouraging vocational training but not terming loading and offloading used by human heads as dignified it is shocking.”
Vice President Touray, in an interview with journalist during the presentation of bags of rice, sugar and oil for thousands of families including the launched of over D 700 million meant for coronavirus relief package at McCarthy Square in Banjul said it is annoying as the Vice President of the country seeing only foreign nationals doing the loading and offloading of government’s purchased COVID-19 relief bags rice for citizens without the participation of a single Gambian citizen.
“The only thing I am sad of today is since the loading and offloading of bags of rice is only done by other nationals from Senegal, Mali, and Guinea and anytime I listen to radio I heard youths complaining of government not providing job opportunity for them. What is more dignified and great than this job? And not that they are not going to be paid by the government,” she said.