By Mama A. Touray
Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) recently held a conference on youth, peace and security ahead of December presidential election. The conference was held at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center.
The conference theme “Peaceful Election for A Peaceful Gambia” and it was meant to discuss issues on how to promote Peace in the Electoral Process, while participants were drawn from Political parties, Civil Society Organizations, Media Houses and Security Services.
The panelists included Francis D. Mendy of Caritas Gambia and Juju Jallow of Peace Ambassadors while moderated by Sait Matty Jaw who advised the youth not to be used by politicians and should participate peacefully in the electoral process.
John Charles Njie YMCA said there are good institutions in this country that the different arms of the government have very effective functions that they could play but if the individuals go there and forget about their values then the institutions will be destroyed.
He said the country’s institutions can be better if people get in to positions of power and do what is right while stated that “no matter which government comes they will give you all kinds of promises.”
Juju Jallow of Peace Ambassador the Gambia said in their quest for a peaceful election during the voter registration period they deployed fifty-three observers for the voter registration and six regional districts.