By Adama Makasuba
Essa Faal who served as lead counsel for TRRC has linked the Gambia’s corruption to low wages and poor conditions of employment, he stated this as he announced his bid to run for presidency in 4th December election during an organised press conference held at the American International University, Kanifing last Friday.
Lawyer Faal, who is yet to announce his manifesto, start his campaign mantra ‘turn around to bring development, empowerment, hope and change for better Gambia.’
“Due to the low wages and poor conditions of employment, corruption has been on the rampage in our country. This makes it extremely costly to do business in the country. It discourages serious investors from coming here [Gambia]. Our beloved country, The Gambia is at a cross roads. The country is regressing and our people are suffering,” he said. But added that: “We are all interested in the welfare of our people.”
He lashed out at the government for not addressing high cost of living for the public and high food cost saying “The cost of living is skyrocketing. There are no effective mechanisms in place to prevent unreasonable price hikes. The ordinary people are at the mercy of predatory businesses whose primary concern is profits. The salary here is very low. Because they are unregulated and there is no minimum wage, the average salary is far outstripped by the cost of living.”
He said workers are generally not afforded a decent standard of living and that they are deprived of their dignity, “The Gambia is that country where housekeepers and labourers earn more than clerks, low level security officers [such as police and military] and even some graduates.”
Meanwhile, he expressed concern about poor state of Gambia’s healthcare sector which he linked to lack of basic facilities.
“Every day our people especially the women folk are dying in hospitals because of lack of basic facilities. People continue to die in the hospitals because of lack of equipment at the health facilities. Health care situation in this country [The Gambia] is a death trap. You go to a hospital in this country with a headache; you come out in a stretcher [dead]. That is how bad it is. We are all victims. People are dying because there are no gloves. People are dying because there are rudimentary facilities to carry out basic procedures to help them,” he said.
The Gambia is in a very sorry state. It is a Gambia where the Government is not present in 90% of the places. Some places do not have portable water, any schools, health centre and roads. Where is the Government?” he asked rhetorically.
He cited a report that states 45% of urban Gambians do not drink clean water indicating that the pipes used by NAWEC to supply water are infected.
He said countries that Gambians used to look lower upon like Guinea Bissau are prospering, leaving the former British colony behind. He submitted that the problem is as a result of poor leadership.