By: Mariama Njie
Halifa sallah, leader of PDOIS has urged Gambians to vote wisely saying they will be bestowing the nation’s wealth to the next president.
“You [Gambians] should choose wisely about who (presidential candidates) you will hand over the D23,692,226,645 (Twenty-Three Billion, Six Hundred and Ninety-Two Million, Two Hundred and Twenty -Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty – Five Dalasis) for the 2022 Budget expenditure,” he told the gathering during a campaign held in Niani Kunda in Niamina Dankunku.
He explained to the electorates that election is coming 4th December people of Niani Kunda and Gambians at large should choose a competent president who will use the wealth of the country in accordance. The allocated budget is the wealth that will be used to develop the country in the coming years, was discussed at the parliamentary level and been approve by the National Assembly Member.
He advised that “any president you are choosing in 4th December election will be the one the allocated budget for 2022 will be handed to, so choose wisely by voting for a competent candidate who will make sure that the budget is use to change the system of ruling. The money is not from the pocket of the president’s but from the people, any merchandise you have been buying being it rice, sugar or oil has been contributed to making that money,” he told them.
He explained to them that any good that are imported in the Gambia first go through customs and the one importing the goods pays tax.
Meanwhile, he said any presidential candidate who has not told its electorate how the budget will contribute in developing their constituencies, is yet to tell them anything. As the 2022 budget should be used as a system change and bring new ruling system.
In addition, Honorable Sallah said: “the money the people of Niani Kunda pay as tax should remain in their account for their development and should not be taken to Area Council. I said this as far as Niani is paying tax and license that money should come back to them in either for road development, hospitals and on the development of women and children.”
He however promised the people of Niani Kunda that once PDOIS won the election, the tax and duties collected from Niani will not go to area council but will be used to develop Niani and that will appear in all other regions.
“If only this is how the country was ruled over a period there would be less poverty but we promise once elected into power we will have a system change by doing sovereign wealth investment fund which will be used in building factories so that will create employment opportunities for youth and women farmers will not suffer,” he said.
