By Mustapha Jarju
Leader of one of the opposition parties – Citizens’ Alliance, Dr Ismaila Ceesay has vowed that if elected in office his government will build hundred thousand houses and create a thousand jobs for Gambians.
Dr Ceesay who was speaking about his party’s 10-point agenda recently said: “CA government will transform the country from a low income nation to a middle income economy where inclusive growth is assured.
He said his government will create hundred thousand houses for low-income earners who are below grade10 for the first phase because the salary is too small that it cannot provide them house.
The CA leader added that “working under the government for 40 years till you retired from the work and you cannot build a house for yourself! This is what the CA government wants to eradicate when they come to power.”
He pointed out that this is important because 48% of Gambians live in poverty and the country is considered 8th poorest country in the world with a debt GDP ratio of 78% and the budget deficit of 5.99 billion dalasi which is 5.61% of the GDP.
Ceesay added that, low revenue lead to high budget deficit saying the Gambia`s debt stock is 79 billion dalasi and 48% of internally generated fund is not sustainable.
“My government will find different innovative models to generate fund to make funding for public investing projects and the civil service will also be supported to make sure they are at the need of the citizenry so that CA government could fight corruption. And also to motivate the civil service because if you are working under the government, your salary is poor and the material you need at work are not available it will be very difficult, most especially, if you are the head of the family,” he emphasized.
“There will be structure at state own enterprises to make sure their primary purpose to serve the people and finance delivery is enhanced. Lack of job opportunity is also a concern which the Citizens’ Alliance government is ready to address, as the country`s general unemployment ratio is 35% especially the youth unemployment which is 41.5%,” he said.
More so, CA promise to provide hundred thousand jobs and as well to increase the wages of people and provide scheme for women to access finance, “today those that are working it is only 4% of them that earn more than ten thousand dalasi in a month,” he disclosed.
CA, he said, will equip all security sectors to ensure security for the people and their goods. But quickly said the rising number of road accidents is a concern CA government will tackle that too.
