By: Nyima Sillah
Some social analysts in the country have expressed their opinions over the celebration of the country’s Independence Day held, Thursday, 18th February.
Despite 56years of nationhood, many are asking if the country is truly independent and if 18th February should truly be a day to reflect over the country’s achievement or not. For some people in their personal views, the day is not worth celebrating. For others, the country cannot be independent if it continues relying on foreign aid, high cost of living, poor health, and poor education systems with a high unemployment rate.
Ebou Faye, said The Gambia has nothing to celebrate as far as independent is concern because the country is not totally free from outside control or outside support. Adding that “what I believe is that our biggest challenge is we still continue to replicate every stage that was organized by the colonial. This country is still divided between rural and urban, and the people in the urban areas are likely to do better in life because they have more opportunities compare to those in the rural areas.”
Awa Manneh, she said independence give us a sense of belonging as Gambians and it also shows us our rights as citizens. “For me, it is a very important moment for this country looking at the struggles and the sacrifices made by our founding fathers”
She continued that independence is a day to commemorate and also to remember who we are because in society if you cannot understand or know much about your history at the end of the day you will get lost.
However Lamin Darboe expressed that this country cannot be categorize as an independent state because there is high percentage of poverty among people in the rural area, total public debt as against GDP is projected to exceed 110%, worn-out furniture’s and infrastructure in government institutions, and inadequate supply of medicines in public hospitals.
He said many things contributed highly towards the independence of a state and Gambia as a country is still going a difficult time in trying to solve these issues. “In the light of such, I cannot say we are independent and I see no reason for Gambians celebrating independence because this and more issues are still affecting us as a nation”, he said.
