The Gambian leader has again reiterated his government's zero tolerance for awful menaces such as homosexuality, use of illicit drugs, corruption, rape and murder, affirming that he will never comprise with such acts. He made it clear that anyone who is bent on doing such things should leave the country, saying, "if not if you are caught you will be living hell on earth". His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh made these remarks Tuesday while addressing thousands of people in Faraba Banta in the Kombo East District of the West Coast Region, as part of his 2013 Dialogue With the People Tour.
Cabinet ministers, senior government officials, directors general, managing directors, and a cross-section of the community graced the meeting. He said that he has a message for those that are defending homosexuality. His words: "Any day you turn from being a man to a woman, don't step your foot into The Gambia because we will never allow you here. One thing I will never compromise is homosexuality. I will never compromise it. Those talking about human rights, and saying that preventing homosexuality is a violation of human rights, I have one message for them and let them go and burn their tails in hell. Gambians will remain Gambians and a man will marry a woman and not the other way round. Homosexuality will never happen here."
He opined that promoting human rights is promoting development and respect for the creation of the Almighty Allah, adding that one must follow his/her religion; be it Islam or Christianity
The Gambian leader also commended the youths of Kombo East especially those engaged in the fishing industry and urged them to keep the momentum. He promised that if they are serious about it, no matter how long it will take, if they need a fishing trawler by the grace of the Almighty Allah, he will provide it for them.
The president further pointed out that there is no job in the country today in which one can earn himself up to D100, 000 in just a single day apart from the fishing industry. To this end, he again stressed that despite the country's vast resources, the sector continues to be utilised by foreigners while the youths sit down doing nothing. He also observed that the only people who benefit from such resources are the women. The president then disclosed government's plans to make lower basic education free for all starting this year, adding that in 2014 the upper basic schools will also be free for all. He further disclosed that by the grace of God in 2015 there will be free education for senior secondary schools also.
He urged the locals especially the youth and women to get more involved in farming. The president observed that it is only women who request for support with farming implement, and urged the male folk to embrace farming seriously. He also assured that all the feeder roads leading to the women's farms will be taken care of. President Jammeh also assured the women and youths that the sky is the limit for them, while warning that with the current attitude of Gambian men, five years from now all their compounds will be owned by women. "Unless we change our attitude, five years from now if you count ten poor people, nine will be men and even today that is what happening," he added. The Gambian leader again raised concerns over the continuous domination of the country's small businesses especially firewood, charcoal and 'kabba' among others, by foreigners. He said that apart from mango and palm oil, all these products are dominated by foreigners while the youths sit and watch.
"These youths will be playing football while their parents are toiling on the farms. If you (youths) don't have regard for your parents and don't help them, to make progress will be very difficult. Compulsory farming is what I am going to institute and to be called 'Operation No Compromise on Agriculture'.
While again decrying the lackadaisical attitude of youths, the Gambian leader observed that most of them will even charge their mothers to dig a well for them though they benefit from the proceeds of the gardens. He pointed out that if youths of the country help their mothers on the gardens, it will surely end the domination of vegetables from Senegal. He again urged them to stop playing football and help their parents on the farms.
President Jammeh continued: "From Faraba to Kalagi, there is no other place in the country blessed with 'Kaaba' tree like this area. But if foreigners do not exploit these abundant resources, they are eaten by wild animals like monkeys. If the young people of this country, the young men, if you don't change your attitude there would be endemic poverty among this generation. Even at the University of The Gambia, female students perform better than the men, why?" He further observed that the females beat the males in WASSCE Examinations.
He added: "How is it possible, we are attending the same classes, taught by the same teachers, by the same school. The female outperformed you because they have the blessings of their mothers and you don't have any blessing; that's why you are going backward. If you don't work for your parents, Allah will never bless you and you will never prosper. My fellow youths, 1 am happy that you are unhappy about what I am saying and I will continue saying it until you change your bad habit." To this end, President Jammeh congratulated the female students of The Gambia and challenged them to keep the momentum. He also disclosed that 80% of the first Gambian Petroleum Engineers are female while reiterating his call on young people to reason and contribute meaningfully to national development. He also stressed that going to Babylon and marrying 80-90-year-old ladies is not going to take them anywhere.
He then urged parents not to force their children to Europe, but to have faith in Allah, adding that at times most of the youths venture into awful activities because of the pressure from their parents.
The ministers of Basic and Secondary Education, Agriculture and Finance, Fatou Lamin Faye, Solomon Owens and Abdou Kolley respectively, thanked the people of Kombo East for their loyalty to President Jammeh and his government.
The ministers acknowledged the numerous development initiatives championed by President Jammeh's government in the area from 1994 to date. They also unveiled the numerous plans government has put in place to boost agricultural productivity in the country. They finally urged the people to go back to the land.
Locals' account
The National Assembly member for Kombo East, Alasanna Bojang, Alagie Basirou Jarju, the chief of Kombo East, Aja Toiulie Jarju, Isatou Jatta, constituency chairman, Alagie Ebrima Saidy, youth mobiliser, while welcoming the Gambian leader and delegation all acknowledged the numerous developments he brought to the area. They all expressed the constituency's unshakable loyalty to President Jammeh. They also stated their needs and appealed to the Gambian leader to look into them. These include the construction of feeder roads, extension of electricity to the area, mobility for the Mandinaba Police Post and a hospital among a host of others.
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