Development Without Planning is Meaningless -Sidia Jatta

Honourable Sidia S. Jatta, the member for Wuli West has challenged the government of The Gambia to be strategic in planning for development. He said development cannot be realized without strategic planning. Jatta mentioned this during the adjournment debate of the National Assembly.

On the Construction of Roads

He said road construction must be strategic.

“I told the National Roads Authority (NRA) during our meeting with them at FPAC that if they were strategic in the road constructions that would have solved all our problems,” he said.

He said wherever there is a health facility, any road linking there should be constructed because it is strategic and essential. He said what he saw in Wuli made him cry. He expounded that the road stretch from the River Bank to Yoroba Ward was very bad that drivers took upon themselves and contributed.

“I and the member for Wuli East (Suwaibou Touray) were both asked to contribute. That did not solve the problem at all but when the president (Adama Barrow) was going there, they made in a way that I couldn’t believe my eyes. I think I was in a new world. This was an insult to the people,” he said.

He emphasized that there are about 4 health facilities on that bank but nobody cared to construct those roads.

“They waited until there servant; their employee is going there and they made the road as if the people living there are not people. It is they who put these monies into our coffers for these roads to be constructed. Somebody they employed to make so that work is done is the person who enjoys leaving them suffering,” Hon. Jatta sounded.

He said both the Executive and the Legislature are servants of the people whether they like it or not.

“We are all servants of the people. We cannot be above them. They employ us and they pay us that is why derive our authority from them and that authority must be exercised in their supreme interest. That is what the law says and if that is not done that should be the time you should be kicked out,” Jatta resounded.

He called on the Minister to construct roads in Wuli especially the one that stretches from Yoroba Ward to the River Bank and the one from Sare Ngai to the Trans-Gambia Road. He said Sare Ngai is a business center and because of the bad condition of the roads, the businessmen and women closes at 3 pm.

“This is really affecting them. I am appealing to the Minister to make sure that stretch is constructed before the raining season. This is fundamental and these are strategic roads. Baja Kunda road should also be constructed because it is where the health center is,” Jatta said.

He said the people there are taxpayers.

“Why are they paying taxes? Taxes must go back to the people in the form of services. That is what they are meant and if they are not doing that then they should not pay. If this is not done, I will organize my people not to pay tax. I will tell them to keep it and we will organize ourselves and build our roads. That is what is going to be happening in this country. There is too much pain,” Jatta said.

He said for 54 years, The Gambia could only construct one road and that road was constructed using loans.

“54 good years only one road. How can we go? This has to stop now because we have fought for changes and change is what must happen,” Jatta rumbled.

He said agriculture; animal husbandry is a driver to national development but the cattle are lack access to water. He indicated that the herdsmen are taxpayers and that the government is required to construct water points for them.

“The more cattle you the more development the more taxes you have the more milk you have and the fertilizers you have. We will soon stop importing milk if this is done,” Jatta said adding that the colonialists were producing milk in the Gambia but now being an independent State, Gambia could not produce milk instead of importing from our former colonial masters.

On the National Health Status of The Gambia

He said for 54 years since attaining nationhood, the Gambia cannot still treat patients in this country.

“Go and ask for the list of patients who cannot be cured in The Gambia at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital; you will cry. For 54 years, we cannot have specialist treatment in The Gambia. Only those who have money can go to Dakar and other parts of the world for treatment,” Jatta said.

He said those in authority whenever they are sick or their families are sick, they will take the money of the people and go abroad for treatment or hire specialists for treatment.

“Why can’t we get specialists here for treatment?” Jatta asked.

He said the country needs neurosurgeon in the Gambia adding that Gambians should be sent for studies abroad and come back to serve the people.

“Africa has everything and there is nothing you cannot study in Africa now,” he said.

He stated that liver cancer is a serious problem in the Gambia.

“Independence is not about having a national anthem or a national flag flying out there but it is the capacity to stand on your feet. It is the capability to provide all your primary needs,” Jatta said.

On Land Disputes

 “They (the government) would fold their hands and wait until people start to kill (then) they pretend to be doing something. This should stop,” the Wuli West NAM said.

He said the essence of a government is precisely to work in the interest of the people. He challenged the government to ensure that the land disputes stop as well as called on members of the National Assembly to join efforts to make sure that wherever there is a dispute over land it is resolved.

“If we don’t I think we are going to have a serious crisis like Gunjur and Berending,” he asserted.

Sidia Jatta, NAM for Wuli West