Back and Next - Back and NextOur economy on the move
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Editorial,
The year 2008 has been an unpleasant year for most of the developing countries. The world witnesses the gravest economic meltdown since after the great depressions of the 1930s. As usual, it is expected that the developing countries should bear the greatest burden in their economies, since those who sustain the world’s economy are themselves in trouble.
This is however, quite contrarily to The Gambian situation. Despite the global economic downturn, we are able to record a sustainable growth rate in our economy and also control the skyrocketing prices of goods particularly food stuff. This has been explicitly manifested in the 2009 budget speech in which the SoS for Finance and Economic Affairs told deputies, that despite the challenges facing the world, The Gambia remains comfortable with its economy.
It is not surprising that the International Monetary Fund has commended our economic policies particularly in the area of poverty reduction. This is yet another justification of President Jammeh’s claim that we cannot develop with our mouths in the kitchen of others. Surely, The Gambia was able to survive the test of time because we depend on our little human and material resources.
The economy is the basis of all developments. There are clear indications that if we continue in this direction, the chances to achieve the Silicon Valley dream are greater. President Jammeh and the government particularly the technical department of Economic Affairs are performing their utmost best in that respect. They are toiling extra hard to ensure that poverty and underdevelopment become history in the country in the near future.
Development is for the citizens. We should therefore become active participants and take center stage in our economic development process. The back to the land call of the president is crucial in this, as it will enable us to produce more for our consumption. And it is food self-sufficiency that lay the foundation of development.
Nobody will come and develop our country for us; they can only drain the little that we have. This is why President Jammeh wants a developed Gambia backed by an indigenous economy. We should therefore, reciprocate his endeavors.
The year 2008 has been an unpleasant year for most of the developing countries. The world witnesses the gravest economic meltdown since after the great depressions of the 1930s. As usual, it is expected that the developing countries should bear the greatest burden in their economies, since those who sustain the world’s economy are themselves in trouble.
This is however, quite contrarily to The Gambian situation. Despite the global economic downturn, we are able to record a sustainable growth rate in our economy and also control the skyrocketing prices of goods particularly food stuff. This has been explicitly manifested in the 2009 budget speech in which the SoS for Finance and Economic Affairs told deputies, that despite the challenges facing the world, The Gambia remains comfortable with its economy.
It is not surprising that the International Monetary Fund has commended our economic policies particularly in the area of poverty reduction. This is yet another justification of President Jammeh’s claim that we cannot develop with our mouths in the kitchen of others. Surely, The Gambia was able to survive the test of time because we depend on our little human and material resources.
The economy is the basis of all developments. There are clear indications that if we continue in this direction, the chances to achieve the Silicon Valley dream are greater. President Jammeh and the government particularly the technical department of Economic Affairs are performing their utmost best in that respect. They are toiling extra hard to ensure that poverty and underdevelopment become history in the country in the near future.
Development is for the citizens. We should therefore become active participants and take center stage in our economic development process. The back to the land call of the president is crucial in this, as it will enable us to produce more for our consumption. And it is food self-sufficiency that lay the foundation of development.
Nobody will come and develop our country for us; they can only drain the little that we have. This is why President Jammeh wants a developed Gambia backed by an indigenous economy. We should therefore, reciprocate his endeavors.
Author: DO
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