Editorial,

Once again, the institution of the judiciary has gone extra mile in the move to strengthen our democratic process. A speedy and impartial trial is a fundament pillar of democracy. This is because it gives people confidence in conducting their affairs. It further gives people a sense of responsibility particularly in the service of the nation. Once justice is guaranteed in a society, the people take ownership of social institutions and manage them for the common good.

The establishment of a special court to provide speedy and impartial trial for capital criminal cases signals that we are moving positively  in our endeavours to perfecting our democracy. The dragging of cases for long, a phenomenon which characterizes our courts can become history. The lower courts if infested with such cases will have ample time to deliver speedy justice. This will allow for the innocent to continue without delay, his or her service to the nation. While those guilty as charged can quickly compensate the law and take up their positions in national development.

President Jammeh has always been advocating for an effective and efficient judiciary that will dispense justice in the build up to a more just and democratic society. This recent development by the judiciary is an indication that they are awakened by the president’s call. The cultures of tolerance, civility, and forbearance are fundamental any democratic process. With justice, such cultures are engendered in society. These further breed peace and harmony for the survival and advancement of the society.

On the part of the citizenry, we should heed to the concerted efforts being made towards establishing a just, decent and democratic society; a society whose people are willing to substitute crime with discipline and hard work for a better Gambia. We must continue to conduct our actions according to the dictates of the law. Again that way, we will produce a society free of greed and intolerance.

A democratic society is not ordained by God, it is built by a people. The ambition of our dynamic president has always been to build a Gambia where people contribute to the advancement of humanity. He has already provided us the enabling environment that gives us the opportunity to make history and direct its course. Let us therefore uphold his vision and develop our dear Gambia.