Veteran politician Sidia Jatta has called on Gambians to take greater responsibility for the country’s future, arguing that the fight against poverty, ignorance and injustice cannot be left to politicians and successive governments alone.
Speaking at the second news conference of the Team Gambia Grand Coalition on Monday, Mr. Jatta, who coordinates the coalition, said The Gambia needed a new sense of national purpose if it was to achieve the social and economic progress envisioned at independence.
He observed that 61 years after gaining independence, the country was still struggling with many of the challenges that successive administrations had promised to address.
Mr. Jatta said meaningful change would require citizens to become more actively involved in national affairs rather than leaving decisions about the country’s future entirely in the hands of political leaders.
“It is the responsibility of every citizen of age who has a vote and who has a right to say what is good for this country and what is not good for this country,” he said.
He argued that successive governments had repeatedly promised to eliminate poverty, ignorance and injustice but had made little headway in tackling these problems. In his assessment, some of the challenges had become even more pronounced over the years.
The veteran politician urged Gambians to reflect on the direction the country was taking and consider what needed to change to build a fairer and more prosperous society.
He acknowledged that the task ahead would not be easy, warning that addressing the country’s deep-rooted problems would require serious preparation, determination and a willingness to work together.
“The tasks before us are Herculean, and therefore we have to be well prepared to be able to address those tasks with satisfaction,” he said.
Mr. Jatta maintained that national development could only be achieved through a collective effort involving citizens from all walks of life, supported by fresh ideas and a stronger commitment to the common good.
He said the responsibility for changing The Gambia’s fortunes rested with the entire population, not simply those seeking or holding public office.
