By Tabora Bojang
Independent presidential aspirant Fatou Jaw Manneh used her Sukuta rally over the weekend to vent her frustrations over the current state of affairs touching on daily electricity blackouts, struggles of Gambian women and high unemployment which she said is pushing young people to embark on the back way.
Manneh, a former journalist, said these and other prevailing conditions warrant a change of the current regime saying: “We cannot be afraid of change” after nine years of “failed promises under Barrow”.
She questioned why the government failed to address the electricity problems after investing billions of dalasis in the sector.
”They have invested billions into Nawec but yet still Gambians continue to endure blackouts each day and night. They may even cut it off before we finish this rally,” she told the audience. According to her, the electricity crisis has increased the suffering of women who struggle to preserve their foodstuff in the current difficult economic environment.
”In 2017, I brought a Gambian based in the US who wanted to provide renewable electricity countrywide within six months. He came to The Gambia, conducted a study and assessment but the government rejected his proposal because they said Karpower was coming. They brought Karpower and expended millions of US dollars on them but the electricity problem persists to date. They keep making promises of bringing projects but until now people are suffering. That investor pledged to fix it in six months but here we almost ten years now under Barrow and Gambians are unable to have stable electricity. They are unable to enjoy decent living, their children continue to embark on the risky back way journey, their children cannot have quality education because the standards have dropped significantly,” Manneh lamented.
She pointed out that the government’s intense prioritisation of building roads is due to the fact that road construction is associated with billions of dalasis in kickbacks for officials.
Manneh accused the government of doing “politics of infrastructure” saying the ongoing works in the “name of development are cosmetic” moves to earn him (Barrow) and his party votes.
”Why do they have to wait to do these projects after nine years?” she asked.
”Let me tell you, they cannot bring anything they haven’t achieved in the past nine years. These are deliberate attempts. Do not fall for them. Do not be afraid of change. Do not give your votes to Barrow. We have given him a chance and we have seen what he can do. The amount of money being wasted by this government is unprecedented. I have not seen it anywhere and they are insensitive to the plight of the people,” she said.