The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Mustapha Carayol, yesterday announced January 24, 2008, as the date set to conduct Local Government elections. He made this announcement at State House, Banjul, when his Office paid a courtesy call on President Yahya Jammeh.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Yahya Jammeh, said “I think with regards to the IEC, if we work out our things on time, there will be very limited constraints.  So, having come out from one election, we should start preparing for the next.  In that case, we will not be confronted with a last minute rush and I think what we should work on, is as we enter in 2008, we should start preparing for 2009.  By the time we will be set, we will not be constrained with certain requirements, like logistics and vehicles.”

On the training of the IEC staff, the Gambian leader, said “there is no problem for training packages, but for people to benefit from the package, they should sign a bond so that they will come and work for the institute for a period of five to ten years”.

He then called on Gambians to take the Local Government elections seriously as it is as important as any other elections.  President Jammeh pointed out that it is the role of the Local Government Office to sensitise people on the importance of the elections.

According to him, he recently watched the television and saw a KMC staff, sympathetically calling on the people to pay rents. “I think this is where the Local Government can come in. People have to pay their rates so that the Council can generate funds to work on certain areas. 

If rates are not paid, how would the municipalities work effectively? If people fail to pay rates, take them to court.  We are in the implementation period, so let us take our responsibilities. Therefore, let us take Local Government elections seriously,” he stated.

He added that Ward Councillors are important as these are officers to whom people can lodge their complaints.  “Councillors are important people in our society for the development of wards.  This should be made known to the people,” he revealed, noting that these are people who represent their people and can bring development to them.

He further revealed that whether people like it or not, they have to pay rates and “if you don’t pay your rent, you should be prosecuted.  What you pay is what we use to improve your environment.  I think this is where the Department of Local Government should take their work seriously,” he remarked.

Mousa Gibril Bala Gaye, Secretary of State for Finance, said the time table for 2008, Local Government elections, is indeed good, especially the component in the time table for voter education.

He said the Commission should now sensitise voters on the importance of Local Government elections, noting that the Councillors are the representatives of the people at the community level. “It is the Local Government Councils that are responsible for the development at the regional, community and local levels. So, the Local Government elections are very important and I think the voter education exercise should be taken up seriously by the IEC and the National Council for Civic Education(NCCE).

The President has just informed us that there would be a fee of D50 per person. Anyone who wants to replace their voters’ card, which the IEC will put into good use, may be the Finance Department and IEC will sit for discussion on how to utilise money generated.”

SoS Bala Gaye pointed out that the IEC has necessary equipment to undertake whatever the Commission wants to do between now to December 2007. He said as from January 1st, 2008, government has provided D10 million in the 2008 budget, for Local Government elections, as well as other activities that the Commission will want to undertake during this period.  He said “the government, under the leadership of President Jammeh will finance four staff of IEC for training in the areas of ICT, but these have to be properly bond”.

For his part, Yankuba Touray, Secretary of State for Fisheries and Natural Resources, said since 1994, one of the achievements recorded by the government, under the leadership of President Jammeh was the creation of the IEC.  He said “before the Revolution there was nothing like Independent Electoral Commission”, noting that Jammeh’s government has funded all elections in the country.

SoS Touray commended the IEC for a job well-done, noting that although IEC has problems here and there, but as time goes on they will improve.  “Last Local Government elections turn over in Banjul was very poor. Only 36% of the electorate came out to vote.  We need to participate fully in all elections. 

The NCCE needs to improve on their job and sensitise people effectively and efficiently.  Our election is the most transparent in the world and it is only The Gambia that uses ballot tokens.  We are not denying people from voting, but rather call for their full participation,” SoS Touray said.

He assured the IEC that APRC will adhere to all IEC’s rules and regulations, for the conduct of elections.

Ismaila Sambou, Secretary of State for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, said his office has sent Amendment Bills to the office of the Attorney-General, which will be sent to the National Assembly for enactment. He said Section 13 (1) of the 1997 Constitution will be among the Amendment Bills.

SoS Sambou, said Section 194 (c) of the Constitution will be amended to pave way for section 13 (1) of the Constitution.  He said Chairmen will be selected by the Councillors, who will be voted in or selected by the SoS responsible.

He also buttressed on the importance of the Local Government elections.

Alhaji Mustapha Carayol, Chairman of the IEC, said the Independent Electoral Commission, in exercise of its mandate, under Section 40 of the Elections Decree, informed the general public that elections for Mayors of the Banjul and Kanifing Municipal Councils and Councillors for the 114 Wards in the eight Local Government Areas of the Republic of The Gambia shall take place on Thursday 24th January 2008.

“Nomination of candidates for the said elections, according to Section 42 (1) of the Elections Decree, shall take place from Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th January 2008, between the hours of 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock in the afternoon in the offices of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama, Kerewan, Mansakonko, Janjangbureh, and Basse, respectively. Public scrutiny of candidates’ nomination documents will take place on Sunday 6th January 2008, at the aforementioned IEC regional offices,” he stated.

In exercise of its powers, given in section 85 of the Elections Decree, the IEC Chairman, said the campaign period for the said election will be held from Wednesday, 9th to Tuesday 22nd January 2008.

“Nomination papers could be collected from the IEC regional offices countrywide, from Thursday 13th December, 2007 to Wednesday 2nd January 2008. The general public is also hereby informed that there will be an exercise to replace lost, destroyed or mutilated voters’ cards or the transfer of voting cards from Thursday 1st to Friday 30th November 2007. 

This exercise will take place in the IEC regional offices countrywide.  A fee of D50 will be levied on any transferred or replaced card,” he concluded.