By Mama A. Touray
People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism has promised to end irregular migration widely known in the country as ‘backway’ and address youth unemployment.
The oldest opposition party made the promises during a launch of its manifesto held at the Kairaba beach hotel, which coincided with Africa Day.
Speaking to hundreds of the party’s supporters, Halifa Sallah explained what the manifesto seeks to archive in the country, as the country heads to the presidential election in December.
“We want to overcome and eradicate poverty and bring an end to unemployment and illegal migration (back way).
Also among the party’s aim is to ensure that within six months a PDOIS administration will create a knowledgeable bank build the destiny we deserved, while the land, air and sea all belong to The Gambian people. And that these national assets should not be wasted for the nation’s people,” he said.
Mr Sallah linked the country’s poverty to “ignorance” saying that “there is injustice and poverty as a result of ignorance and our people taught that they are hopeless, helpless, voiceless and powerless.”
Meanwhile, Sam Sarr, the party’s secretary of the information, said the party will provide solutions which will be in favour of every Gambian.
“Every single day that is registered in the minds of the young person that they are unemployed because they are hopeless. Job is given to the people based on who you know and not what you know but PDOIS is here to put an end to this,” he said.
“If you grow what you eat and eat what you grow then what will you manufacture, process and export to foreign countries to have foreign exchange and how will you buy things you need from the foreign countries.
“Eat what you grow, process, manufacture and export to foreign countries to have foreign exchange and buy what you want from foreign countries,” Mr Sarr said.
He said that the transformative agenda says “we must build a new Gambia before you become a new Gambia,” adding “Every citizen has a contract but we betrayed the contract but the manifesto is challenging us to put an end to that betrayal by taking what belongs to us”.
