By: Kemo Kanyi
Ousainu Darboe, party leader and secretary-general of the opposition United Democratic Party, described President Adama Barrow’s development achievement claims as a misconception of the realities of Gambians’ aspirations.
Darboe mentioned that President Barrow and his government think that only concrete and cement define a country’s development achievement, which in fact, in most cases are of poor qualities, that’s why they are not as durable as expected by citizens.
‘’Development means to improve the livelihood of the people, health system, education, and other supplements can be considered. How does a tarred road benefit a hungry population? How do the OIC roads benefit the people of Mungagen?
‘’If we want to see a developed Gambia, UDP should be allowed to govern the country. Firstly, we will improve your livelihood, health system, education, and the economy. That’s the way to develop this country,’’ Ousainu Darboe affirmed at a meeting in Munyagen village, Jokadu District, during UDP’s nationwide tour.
Lawyer Darboe added that government-sponsored Students of the University of The Gambia cannot still access their attestations due to the government’s failure in its responsibility. ‘’This is one of the critical sectors the government should prioritize for any meaningful development to be achieved.’
Responding to the President’s claim of achieving more development than the previous regimes, the UDP leader strongly disagreed with the claim, stating Barrow is only better at increasing the country’s loan burdens.
‘’All well-meaning Gambians should not pay attention to the President’s claim that he had done more in development than Sir Dawda because the only thing he has done better than him (Sir Dawda) in this country is ‘’increase the debt burden’’ of the country at the expense of Gambians, and misused the loans by enriching himself. Whatever development one can make in this country will be laid on the foundation established by Sir Dawda,’’ party leader and secretary-general of UDP emphasized.
On the issues of groundnut prices pegged by the government, Darboe expressed solidarity with farmers, stating that they will unfairly endure the high price of commodities given the reality of the devaluation of Dalasi relative to the stagnating groundnut prices.