By Kemo Kanyi
Mamma Kandeh, leader of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress has stated that the country lost its sovereignty to Senegal under President Adama Barrow’s regime.
He lamented that in both Jawara and Jammeh regimes, The Gambia has never sourced its electricity from Senegal but today the country is generating its electricity from Senegal.
“Gambia has lost her sovereignty to Senegal under this regime. Senegal is our neighbour and we are two sovereign states. We do not hate Senegal, we will never hate them. We know that we must work together but The Gambia is a state of its own,’’ Kandeh said.
He urged the government to explain to Gambians how the country owes Senegal millions of US dollars for the fact that citizens are paying their electricity bills before being able to use it.
‘’Currently, we owe Senegal $16 million in electricity arrears. All ordinary Gambians are buying cash power to be able to use electricity. How do we owe Senegal such an amount? Why can’t the government tell us how we are indebted to Senegal in this hefty amount? The ordinary Gambians continue to pay for this debt without gaining anything meaningful to their children and other relatives. This is why whenever you buy cash power, NAWEC deducts you heavily. If you buy D1000, you will be given a token value of D700. This represents a D300 deduction. The government continues to rob the citizens forcefully because they owe Senegal, which the ordinary citizens do not know about,’’ the GDC leader said during the welcoming of new militants from Brikama at Baobab Hotel on Friday.
“When he was coming to power, he promised to step down after three years. When he was reminded by Gambians, the result became tear-gassing. He promised not to contest for election after three years. He promised not to form a political party. Did he fulfill any of this? When he was asked why he did not fulfill his promises to Gambians, his reply was that when he was canvassing for votes, he could say anything. Do we still have to put our trust in someone who has failed all these promises to Gambians? Kandeh asked rhetorically.
The GDC leader urged electorates to put national interest first to vote out the current government in 2026.