– Halifa Sallah
By Demba Bah
Halifa Sallah, Secretary General of PDOIS told reporters at a press conference yesterday, that the nation is in transition which started in 2016 but yet to arrive at its destination.
He said PDOIS called the press conference to share its vision and mission on the way forward. He said the nation is at a crossroads and in transition because a nation must have a founding instrument which is the Constitution. He pointed out the fact that many voices are being heard with regards to the future of that fundamental instrument.
The People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) had a press conference at its headquarters in Churchill’s Town on Wednesday, January 8th 2025. The purpose of the press conference held at the PDOIS headquarters was to give an update about the upcoming nationwide tour scheduled from the 10th to the 24th of January 2025, and also to touch on current events.
“A bill has been introduced at the national assembly to promulgate the 2024 draft constitution,” he highlighted. The reason for that he said is because the national assembly has the legislative authority not the executive.
“The President and his executive can have their intentions. They can only propose. What has been done is the end of the journey for the executive. It is the law makers who are crafters of the law. It is now up to them if the bill will pass the second reading or not. If the law makers say they cannot make laws, then The Gambia is in trouble,” he warned.
The legislators have the power to allow the bill to go to the committee stage in order to consult Gambians. 2026 is not far away. If the Gambian population wants a Constitution that is fit for purpose and know the content of that Constitution, then they will deal with anyone who does not want to give them a Constitution that is fit for purpose, he advised. He said this is an opportunity that the country never had to engage in consultation in order to prepare for a new republic. That opportunity must not be lost.
ON THE ECONOMY
Halifa reminded the gathering that a budget of D38 billion has been passed into law. The debt service has increased from D7 billion in 2024 to D11 billion in 2025. This he said is more than the health, education and agriculture budgets combined. The Gambia therefore is thriving on debt, he alerted.
“Now they are saying they are recycling your assets. People will manage it for profit, but then if there is currency devaluation, what happens? Whatever has to be paid will increase. The charges will increase. When they become unaffordable, people will look for options. At the end of the day, your government will be tax collectors for their creditors to pay debts they owe,”he revealed.
So, where do we go from here? That is the purpose of this tour, Halifa informs.
