By Mustapha Jarju
The leader of People Alliance Party (PAP), Ebrima Manneh, has promised that his government will eradicate poverty through empowering the agricultural sector and farmers to enable The Gambia attain its food self-sufficiency goal.
“I will endeavor to support local farmers in The Gambia to be food sufficient for select produces that are known to be successfully grown locally in the country and PAP is ready to change the narrative by looking for ways that can minimize the dependence on the importation of food items in to The Gambia. Thereby reducing the country`s foreign currency needs which will help improve both the national economy, reduce unemployment and improve the earnings and standard of living of Gambian farmers,” he told The Voice exclusively.
According to him, his government will be committed to promote peace by encouraging honesty and make sure there is justice whenever required to decentralized development in all regions and promote positive cultural and religious values for national interest.
“And to promote and support commercial and subsistence agriculture so that the country`s food needs are met and at the most we can have value added products for export,” he said.
He went on that PAP government will partner with Gambians in the diaspora with the aim to create Gambia and Diaspora partnership (GDP) whereby funds from the interested Gambians abroad can be wisely utilized in much needed investment sectors of the country`s economy. Therefore, he noted, road construction, agriculture, bank and finance and so on will be safe, well-regulated and jointly managed by seasoned Gambians and representatives of those in diaspora.
More so, the party is also committed to promote the core values of the people of The Gambia to foster unity, mutual trust and self-reliance and have a strong security set-up which will be independent without any political interference to protect the integrity of the country and its citizenry, he said.
PAP government, as added, is gearing towards developing the country in a model of sustainable economic system that will incorporate both modern technology with positive Gambian values and characteristics to enable us create meaningful employment which will enable all of us to be self-reliant and live-in dignity.