The people of Banjul, the capital city of the country, succeeded in selecting their candidates through a convention which was a primary election for selection of the candidates at the ST. Mary’s Hall yesterday March 7, 2017 for the forthcoming National Assembly election. This initiative by Tahawal Banjul and Team Banjul is first of its kind in the city. The candidates from all the three constituencies of the City were given limited time to deliver on the agenda that they think can move their respective constituency for the betterment of the people. They were later posed questions from the moderators and the people from the constituency of the candidate. In addition, after the question and the answer session between the people and their aspiring National Assembly members, the constituents proceeded to drop the votes which were enveloped in a box place at the center of the hall. Following the voting process, people sat keenly waiting for the results to be announced by the group of moderators. The independent moderators counted votes for each contesting candidate and totalled them and there after the announcement followed.
This reporter observed that a thousand or more Banjulians came out to the occasion. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Alieu Gaye, the chairman said the initiative was solely from the people of the city and that they are not in support of any political party because the people will choose who they want to represent them and they will surely rally behind the person. For the Banjul South Constituency, Madam Fatoumata Njie who had no opposition from anyone from her constituency stated that with qualification she got from well renown universities of the world that her top priority is to improve the standards of youths, men, the young and the women and further improve the standards of the City’s infrastructure, sanitation and early child development.
In the heart of the City, Banjul Central Constituency was where the tough contest occurred between three candidates. The candidates are Athur Jackson, Momodou B. Ceesay and Muhamed Ndow who all lamented the need to improve the standards of the City and eradicate unemployment as well as to improve the medical services. The voting method was through the ballot box where a voter will present his or her voter’s card before being given a card of three pictures to cut out the picture of his/her choice and put it in an envelope and drop it in the box for counting.
Muhamed Ndow came out victorious with 87 out of 146 votes cast and was commended for his victory by the other two contesting candidates. For Banjul North, Ousman Sillah was unopposed because his counterpart announced to the gathering that he has dissociated himself from taking part for the National Assembly elections. Mr. Sillah in his deliberation thanked the people of Banjul for building hope and promised to serve them accordingly. He also promised that he will partake in the Institutional and legal reform among other things he mentioned. He described his life by saying he has been an active politician and a journalist since his early age to date and promised to continue his work for the betterment of the nation.
