FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
9 November 2009
opinion
The hiring and firing tactics continue. This practice which commenced since 2004 has perplexed most sober-thinking Gambians particularly when inadequate reasons for these frequent hiring and firing of civil servants are reported. This gives rise to speculations and rumour-mongering in the country.
It could be recalled that the former P.P.P regime was ousted due to accusations of corrupt practices and incompetence. One could remember the commissions of enquiry which were promptly inaugurated by the military junta of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (A.F.P.R.C) to investigate these malpractices and bring all officers found guilty to justice. We are all aware that the ensuing legal procedures were costly and they actually dragged on for many months. Many civil servants found guilty of misdemeanors had their houses and properties confiscated. That period was a most unhappy one due to the syndrome of 'Round pegs in square holes', which prevailed in the civil service at that time. This unsatisfactory practice is detrimental to progress generally and sustainable development of the country. The community then, believed that this demoralizing practice had disappeared with the deposed P.P.P government, but alas! This does not appear to be the case; this syndrome seems to be raising up its ugly head up to the present time) as one could deduce from the several dismissals which have been reported as recently as the last months of this year 2009!!
Does this imply that the present government which had vehemently decried the former regime of corruption and other misdemeanours is guilty of similar crimes, we wonder? This is the pertinent question being asked today. If so, the public is dismayed and disillusioned by these latest developments occurring in the country. Who then can be saved and where are the dedicated men and women of integrity. We ask ourselves? At the present time we discover that there are about four Ministries without Ministers including that of the ministry of Information, a most important department. We realise that it is the president's prerogative to hire and fire senior civil servants, but to replace the officers who have been fired, with competent alternatives at short notice or with immediate effect cannot be that simple and or easy. The sudden and unexpected dismissals must inevitably create vacuum here and there and result in much disruptions and discord in the various departments involved.
It is necessitating the president to oversee more Ministries on his own. These actions must surely hamper the smooth and efficient functioning of the departments. It has been said that the President has over a million Gambians to choose from to replace dismissed officers, but is this a reality? It cannot be an easy task to discover competent men and women at short notice, of this we are convinced. Up to date the community has been supportive of these strict disciplinary measures initiated to streamline the civil service generally and making staff take their work seriously and giving of their best to the service thus effecting sustainable and comprehensive developments in government and the entire country.
The recent bombshell which has shocked and surprised the country is the dismissal of the top brass of the military and some other senior military officers. They seem to be competent senior military officers who had been given several promotions in recent months. Their removal must have been a blow to them and their families and a source of much stress to them. Sympathy is extended to them all for this latest misfortune especially at this stage of a successful military career.
Bijou Peters
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My Dear for_all-Gambian,
You wrote "President Jammeh is right in firing and prisoning those individuals found quilty in a court of law with due representation"
When was Lang Tombong Tamba, Bojang (State Guard Commander, etc, found guilty in a court of law before their firings?
As a matter of fact, when was anybody fired from Jammeh's government after a due process of the law?
M
Mr/Mrs?Ms M
I am sure you are following the happenings in The Gambia, our beloved country which all loving Gambians ought to do. For your information the military is a different institution and has its own rules and regulations. This fact applies to arm forces in the world. There is what is called the Arm Forces Act. A superior commander in the army armed with reasonable facts that a junior soldier has commetted a crime can do one of many actions. The superior can charge, detain, fine, demote to a lower rank, dismiss with disgrace,and or jailed. M you want to know what you are talking about before you try to challenge facts. Don't just write because you can knowing that you are before the veil of the world wide web. I again repeat that President Jammeh is right to fire those individuals who abuse the trust of the Gambian people. The firing should continue until we have competent individuals to run the affairs of the state. Good job President Jammeh and keep up the good job.
I must say that I have nothing against Foroyaa news paper to comment on the the hiring and firing of individuals in the country. I do have an issue with the paper saying that our sympathy goes to them especially the top military officers who were found quilty of abusing the trust of the nation. President Jammeh is right in firing and prisoning those individuals found quilty in a court of law with due representation. Corruption is evil in any branch in the government especially in the military. The Gambia needs competent people who are educated and has the interest of the country at hearth. Good job President Jammeh and keep up the good job.