I have the time to watch the situation in Brikama, and I commend Chairman Yanks Darboe for standing up to defend the people who elected him and holding on to his commitment to serve in the interest of his people. Yanks said something that we all need to reflect on as a country: the lack of respect meted out to him, the abuse and undermining of his Authority, and the unauthorised interference by the government in certain areas of his region.
“I am responsible for the Markets and the Region. These people will come every time without consulting or informing me, going to the market often causing damage and disruption. I only hear this from people. The law gives us the power to run and operate the markets in the region. People elected us to serve them and protect them without fear or favour.
The market is under the council; you cannot come to someone’s house and do whatever you want continuously; this has to stop. We are defending our oat to our people who elected us and the region,” Yanks Darboe, Chairman, West Coast Region
Leadership involves a significant responsibility towards the people who trust and are confident in you. A leader must prioritise the well-being and safety of their people. This includes defending their rights, safeguarding their interests, and ensuring their security, and this is what Yanks did, and I applaud him for that. Yanks have consistently honoured his word, reinforcing his reliability and integrity. What Yanks did was put the needs of the people who elected him first, show empathy towards their predicament caused by the Government who is also supposed to protect them and strive to improve the quality of their life
Since the start of the operation to clear the roads, I have raised my rejection of this operation due to how it is being conducted. The treatment of individuals during these State-led operations is harrowing, and I stopped watching it because it is tormenting. Respecting human dignity and ensuring that governmental actions do not exacerbate existing hardships, especially in the present Gambia, where there is abject poverty, should be at the centre of these operations.
Every Gambian deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. The way operations are conducted should reflect this fundamental principle. You are dealing with human beings but not animals; even animals should not be treated the way the operation clears the road, which is treating our people. The rudeness, disrespect and inhumane way Manneh and Co are treating our people should not be supported by any Gambian or even entertained. Manneh, who is in charge of the operations, is responsible for ensuring that their actions do not harm the people they are supposed to serve.
Instead, the “Rambo-style” leadership exhibited during this operation reflects a disconnect from the values of compassion and service that should guide Public Officials. Leading an operation is not ” Rambo-style” leadership but should be exercised with empathy, responsibility, and a deep understanding of the people’s plight.
In Gambia, where poverty is widespread and government support is lacking, people’s livelihoods are often fragile. Any state action that destroys what little people have managed to build for themselves will push them deeper into poverty and despair. The State’s primary role should be to protect its citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
Instead of destroying their means of survival, the State should find ways to support and uplift citizens. This includes creating and implementing policies that provide safety nets and opportunities for economic improvement. Everyone should reject how these operations are conducted and call for a more humane and considerate approach.
Instead of destructive operations, the State should engage with communities to understand their needs and collaboratively develop alternatives that do not harm their livelihoods. This could include urban planning that accommodates existing communities or providing relocation assistance that ensures a better quality of life.
Thus, “Operation Clear the Road,” in its current form, is a testament to the dangers of insensitive and disrespectful Governance. The destruction of people’s livelihoods and the inhumane treatment they have faced highlight the urgent need for a shift towards compassionate and responsible leadership.
By prioritising the well-being and dignity of all citizens, engaging with communities, and implementing supportive policies, the State can achieve its goals without inflicting harm on those it is meant to serve. The call for a more humane approach is a plea for better governance and a social demand for justice and respect for every individual’s right to live with dignity.
I call on the government to instruct the task force to collaborate with the councils in this operation to ensure success.
Citizens’ sensitivity should be ongoing, and different methods should be employed. A clear case of missed opportunity is that before engaging musicians to create a song for the OIC, one should have been done for this operation. The government has paid some media outlets D40m. I guess the brief should include sensitising citizens about operation clear the road.
The women’s affairs ministry should be heavily invested in this process because vulnerable women are victims. This affects their livelihoods as most of these women vendors live in food-insecure homes.
Show empathy, always de-escalate situations, and open doors for dialogue.
On this day of Arafat, May God Protect this country from Bad Leadership!!
#Statecapture
#responsiblegovernment