Members of the National Assembly on Monday began an exclusive debate on President Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh’s 2008 state opening address held last Friday at the Assembly Chambers in Banjul.

Opening the debate, Hon. Sellu Bah, NAM for Basse saluted President Yahya Jammeh for the brilliant state opening address. He also commended Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay for her visionary leadership in transforming the assembly in all aspects.

On the President’s call for youths to change their attitudes and work towards national development, Hon. Bah concord with the Gambian leader and advised the youths to make best use of the opportunities accorded them in the country rather than always eyeing for babyloon.

On the Basse-Fatoto-Koina, he called on government to assist construct the road. He also lauded the pronouncement by the Gambian leader for the construction of a bridge in Sankuleh Kunda describing it as a good initiative.

On the NAYCONF 2008 to be hosted in Farrafenni, Hon. Bah urged that the resolutions and recommendations from the conference be send to the National Assembly select committee to scrutinise to ensure its implementation.

Hon. Paul Mendy, NAM for Kombo South also extended appreciation to the Gambian leader for the speech. He equally saluted Speaker FJC for steering the affairs of the assembly in an extra-ordinary and professional manner describing the state opening organisation as the first of its kind in The Gambia.

He further lauded th priorities accorded to science, technology and innovation by the government aimed at transforming The Gambia into a Silicon Valley noting that in the just concluded Addis Ababa conference, these where high on the agenda and term as still lacking in Africa. He further called on the Department of state for Youths and Sports to revisit the youth policy.

He then dilated on the escalating prices of commodities noting that since the dalasi has appreciated to major currencies, commodity prices should not escalate. He called on the importers to have mercy on the people particularly the poor farmers. He also welcomed the initiative by President Jammeh that agriculture will no longer depend on rainfall but irrigation will be included.

Hon. Yerro Mballow, NAM for Lower Fulladou West also commended the Gambian leader for the address and saluted Speaker FJC for her leadership qualities. On discipline in schools, he welcomed the President Jammeh’s decision that scholarships will now not be base on merits but discipline. On agriculture, he concord with President Jammeh that some people are lazy and do not want to engage themselves. He called on people to go back to the land rather sitting and criticising government.

He also lauded the steadfast efforts of President Jammeh in realising that the company that was contracted the petroleum works wanted to cheat the country by only offering us 5 per cent. He then appealed to government to also consider Brikama-ba, Boiram, Misera Njoben and other satellite villages in the next rural electrification project and appreciated the rehabilitation of the Soma-Basse road.

According to him, this bad roads causes increase in prices of commodities as transportation cost will increase and the businessmen would also want to add such expenditures on top of the prices of commodities.

Hon Mballow also announced the successes registered at Jahally Pacharr rice field this year through the support of the Taiwanese Technical Mission.

Hon Mama Kandeh, NAM for Jimara also returned thanks to the Gambian leader and congratulated Speaker FJC for her exceptional leadership. He noted that this state opening of the assembly has never happen in the country an the president’s speech also touched all areas of national development

He emphasised on the lack of consideration towards agriculture despite 75 per cent of Gambians been farmers noting that the Gambia cannot achieve the MDGs, or Vision 2020 without ben food self-sufficient and thanked President Yahya Jammeh for his initiatives in the agriculture sector.

On defense and security, he also thanked the service men for sacrificing their lives to ensure peace and stability in The Gambia noting that criminals are not welcome in the country.

He cited the criminal acts currently going on in certain parts of Serrekunda where people’s necks are cut and stolen away and the bodies buried. This he said is not Gambian style and urged the security to move from the high ways looking after only vehicle license and control the matter.

He then noted the the tourism sector is dying and called on the authorities to ensure that all unlicensed hotels pay their dues as expected.

Hon Netty Baldeh, NAM for Tumana also congratulated President Jammeh for a brilliant state opening address and Speaker FJC for the manner she steers the affairs of the assembly and for the wonderful organisation of the state opening activities.

He equally lauded the priorities of the Jammeh administration towards health, agriculture and education. He also hailed the progress of the financial sector of the country and lauded the change of attitude pronouncement by President Jammeh. “Every leader wants his achievements to be enjoyed by his people.

But today, all the opportunities accorded to Gambians by government are been utilise by the foreigners. We should now get embrass for allowing the president making such frequent calls on the people. We should be mature enough to know what he intends for the Gambia and change our attitudes.

Attitudinal change in people should be a foregone conclusion and we should not allow the President to repeat it again” he said.

On the prices of commodities, he noted that the fast escalation of the prices is due to the greediness and wickedness of the importers and called for the establishment of a competition commission to look into the matter.

On the failures in the tourism sector, he attributed it to land problems and expressed delight that the lands act will be revisited noting that hotels have no guests now for the fact that tourist are lodge in compounds not term as hotels which greatly affects the sector.

For Sulayman Joof, NAM for Serrkunda West, the President’s speech is brilliant which touched all areas of national development and commended Speaker FJC for the magnificent state opening ceremony. According to him, the presence of speakers from the sub-region manifest the commitment of Speaker FJC towards African integration. He also saluted the Central Bank and the department of State for Finance for ensuring a sound fiscal policy.

To the Personnel Management Office (PMO), the veteran teacher called on them to review the salaries of teachers and nurses noting that over the years several teachers run away from the field due to bad conditions. He further lauded the efforts of government towards the higher education system and the decision by President Jammeh that scholarship will now not only base on academic performance but as well discipline.

Hon Joof the stated his support for the women’s bill and cited the participation of women in national development. He also called on the youths to make best use of the opportunities accorded them by government rather than risking their lives on the route to the Canaries.

Hon Momodou M5 Jallow, NAM for Upper Fulladou West also saluted the President and Speaker FJC for her focus mind and vision in establishing a sense of unity within the sub-region.

He then observed that President Jammeh has established the grounds for Gambians noting that all citizens should be proud of the proposals outlined.

On defense, he called on Gambians to continue to support them in all necessary measures noting that certain people are currently in the Gambian midst and are criminals. He called on the people to disclosed such to the security.

He also raised concern on the lack of certain facilities. He also called on the authorities to assist the GRA officer in Bansang with transportation to ensure safety on his collections. He also appealed to government to help the farmers get fertilizer at the right time.

Hon. Abba Sanyang, NAM for Foni Kansala also thanked President Jammeh noting that he has stipulated his plans and is left for Gambians now. He also raised concern on the destruction on the roads and called on people to stop digging on the roads. He also called on NAWEC and Gamtel to try to console the technocrats when they are designing the roads so that certain parts for drainage, electrification connections and water supply systems can be indicated.

Hon Foday Manka, NAM for Janjangbureh said the President’s speech has lots of substance and also lauded Speaker FJC for her visionary leadership. He then welcomed the decision of zero tolerance for discipline in schools noting that during colonial days, there was high discipline in schools and head teachers were respected as well.

He also observed that teachers should also set disciplinary examples for students to emulate and called on the authorities to also consider code of conduct for teachers. He also called on senior government officials to engage in farming and commended government for the initiative to build a bridge in Sankuleh Kunda noting that this will help revive Janjangbureh.

Hon Haddy Nyang-Jagne, NAM for Jeshwang also saluted the Gambian leader and Speaker FJC. She welcomed the women’s bill to be presented to the National Assembly noting that when women are empowered, a whole nation is empowered as they contribute a lot to national development. She on behalf of the entire Gambian women thanked President Jammeh for always recognising them.

She also thanked the Gambian leader for bringing education to the door steps of all Gambians noting that without education, no nation can develop. She also hailed the Central Bank of The Gambia and DoSF&EA for the ensuring a sound fiscal policy and emphasised the bad conditions of roads in Jeshwang and called on government to assist them.

Hon. Abdoulie Saine, NAM for Banjul Central equally saluted the Gambian leader and concord with him on attitudinal change. According to him,parents of today fail in ensuring decipline in the children.

On the operation clean the nation, he expressed dissapointment with the young people of Banjul for always not participating but rather playing football on the streets during the day. On the Women’s bill, he also promised his support. He also d commended the security agents for their collaboration with the people of Banjul to ensure that the capital is a major crime free city.

Hon Ouley Sey, nominated member also saluted President Jammeh for a brilliant address and Speaker FJC for demonstrating what women as well can contribute to national development.

Alhagie Bekai Camara, NAM for Wuli East member also commended President Jammeh for the brilliant speech.

In return, Speaker FJC commended all NAMs noting that she could not have achieved the successes without the support of the members. She assured them of her continues support and collaboration to work towards national development.

Read more on the dabate in our subsequent edition.