By: Kemo Kanyi
Political commentator Lawyer Assan Martin has told The Voice that the money that the Gambia government spent on the commemoration of the Gambia’s 60th anniversary could have spent to provide and improve social services, describing the expenditure as a waste of public resources.
The Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has confirmed that the Gambia government allocated D100M for activities, marking the country’s diamond jubilee.
In his reaction to Dr. Ceesay’s disclosure, Martin argued that the D100M could make a massive difference to the economic health and wellbeing of the country and its population, adding that it’s still a struggle for some Gambians to afford a three-square meal. The social advocate said some of his compatriots live on a single meal a day, stating that the money could also foster youth empowerment through job creation.
He submitted that the D100M is sorely needed in several struggling sectors of the country to improve the lives of citizens, accusing the government of turning a blind eye to the citizens’ struggles.
“The lavish party [banquet] on Independence Eve at the State House must be stopped—it was not necessary. It didn’t make any positive impact on the lives of Gambians. The money spent should have been properly diverted into health care, education, youth empowerment and agriculture to support women gardeners,” Martin opined. He continued: “This government is out of touch with the sufferings of Gambians. They are into lavish lifestyle and extravagant spending using public funds. They don’t care about the hardship people of the country are experiencing in their daily lives.”