Alagi Yorro Jallow
Part VIII
Fatoumatta: As The Gambia commemorates 60 years of independence, we discover ourselves at a crucial juncture in our nation’s historical past. This milestone isn’t merely a tribute to our previous struggles and victories; it serves as a strong reflection on our journey and a beacon of hope for the longer term. Our forefathers and moms, pushed by unwavering willpower and braveness, fought fiercely for the liberty and dignity that we get pleasure from at present. Their sacrifices have laid a strong basis for a nation constructed on the bedrock rules of justice, equality, and self-determination. As we honor their legacy, we should additionally embrace the profound accountability it entails—persevering with their work and striving for a greater, extra affluent Gambia.
This article attracts compelling parallels between the management dynamics in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and the political panorama of The Gambia, underscoring the crucial want for training, consciousness, and constitutional reforms to make sure a brighter future for all Gambians. My fellow countrymen and ladies, Today, we stand proud and free, deeply indebted to our forefathers and moms who bravely risked every little thing for the liberties we cherish. I typically ponder what it have to be wish to embark on a journey after securing your freedom from an oppressive and abusive established order. A previous that sought to control you, strip you of your wealth, drive you to desert your faith, change your title, and demean you as “ape” or “foolish.” Imagine breaking your shackles and setting off on a journey with out realizing your vacation spot, but overwhelmed with euphoria at lastly shifting ahead.
I wasn’t there when it occurred 60 years in the past, however I turned a part of this journey within the years that adopted. Throughout this trek, we—the individuals—have battled to chart our course, searching for efficient management, resolving inside conflicts, and confronting new exterior challenges. New generations—the “dot comers”—have joined the trail charted by our forebears, very like tributaries flowing right into a river that has but to succeed in a recognized vacation spot. With every new era, our quest for nation-building persists. Who are we? What unites us? How will we declare our place within the international identification? To really perceive our journey, we should view it because the collective journey of households, people, and communities earlier than it may be seen because the journey of a nation.
On this sixtieth anniversary, people have achieved outstanding milestones, households have flourished and transcended prejudices, and in some ways, we’ve got carved out our rightful place among the many nations. Indeed, we’ve got confronted silly, violent, and determined moments. Much stays unresolved, as the material of greed and apathy casts an extended shadow over displaced households, reminding us of our unfinished mission. The invaluable contributions of medical doctors, farmers, cops, nurses, civil servants, and academics typically go unrewarded, pushing them to the perimeters of society the place their efforts are disregarded. The highly effective continuously overshadow the susceptible, claiming disproportionate benefits whereas touring in unethical consolation. Children skip by, their eyes full of innocence and marvel, reigniting our hopes and goals. Yet, others shuffle alongside, some wrestle to outlive. It is for them—all the time for them—that we persist on this journey. We forge forward with a burning hope recognized solely to those that genuinely perceive the that means of freedom. We are Gambians on this path; could we tread with profound consideration for all, in order that even in our darkest hours, we stay brave, unafraid, and unshackled. The frustrations many Gambians have felt regarding the administration of our nation’s affairs over the previous 60 years are fully justified.
However, let this not deter us from commemorating our Independence Day and honoring the heroic sacrifices made by numerous women and men who gave every little thing to safe our nation’s freedom. The freedoms and human dignity we’ve got nurtured during the last 60 years got here at an immense price to numerous households and people in The Gambia. We must not ever take these hard-won liberties with no consideration; as an alternative, we should always maintain them shut and shield them fiercely.
Fatoumatta: Voice of Conscience: A Call for Justice and National Pride.
Edward Francis Small, alongside the brave little kids of The Gambia, boldly chanted, “We demand right and justice! We demand bread and butter!” These impassioned cries towards colonial oppression ignited what we now keep in mind because the “Bread and Butter Demonstration,” a strong catalyst for our nationwide consciousness and our quest for self-rule. We stood firmly towards the injustice of taxation with out illustration, bravely confronted strikes and starvation strikes, and rallied towards the dehumanizing situations that provided us solely a penny a day for our labor.
Today, we come collectively to honor the fearless women and men who fought valiantly for our independence. We pay homage to our founding father and first Republican President, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, together with heroes like Edward Francis Small, Momodou Ebrima Jallow, Alhagie Cham Joof, Sheriff Sekouba Sisay, Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, Alieu Badara Njie, Amang Kanyi, Seyfo Omar Mbakeh, Kalilu Singhateh, Famara Wassa Touray, Paul L. Baldeh, Pierre Sarr N’Jie, I. A. S. Burang John, Kebba W. Foon, I. M. Garba Jahumpa, Philip Bridge, F. D. C. Williams, Okay. J. W. Lane, Rev. J. C. Faye, Sir John Paul, Sir John Martin, J. M. Kirsch, H. Steel, R. G. Pettitt, and all those that courageously sacrificed for the liberty we cherish at present.
Let us unite to construct the Gambia we envision. If our forebears might forge this path, so can we. Yes, I wholeheartedly imagine that you simply and I possess the power to make this imaginative and prescient a actuality. Let’s ignite that perception collectively. Happy Independence Day, Gambia! As we mirror on this important milestone, I urge every of you to examine the Gambia you dream of at 60 years of independence. Is this really the Gambia our forefathers fought to create? Sixty years after our liberation, are we genuinely advancing towards true and significant improvement? Have we guarded our sovereignty with the vigilance and technique required, or have we recklessly surrendered it to transient needs and greed? Are we in charge of our future and our nationwide assets?
Are we actively fostering job alternatives and recruitment for Gambians each at dwelling and within the Diaspora? Do our values, attitudes, and practices at present really mirror the greatness that The Gambia has all the time embodied? Our independence is just important if anchored within the rules of social, financial, and political justice, the rule of regulation, democratic governance, and the unwavering safety of the basic freedoms and human rights of each citizen. As Gambians on this shared journey, allow us to stroll with dignity and respect for each other, in order that even in our darkest hours, we stay courageous, unafraid, and unshackled. Ladies and gents, as we have a good time and commit to those core values, allow us to faucet into our collective power to treatment the inequities and challenges inside our society. This noble endeavor can solely flourish in an setting of mutual tolerance and respect. Together, you and I can form the Gambia we need. If our forefathers might obtain this nice activity, so can we. Yes, I’ve unwavering religion that you simply and I can. Let us imagine on this shared imaginative and prescient collectively. Happy Independence Day, Gambia!
Fatoumatta: The story of “Animal Farm” serves as a timeless reminder of the hazards of unchecked energy and the significance of vigilance in safeguarding democracy. Just because the animals on the farm had been manipulated and oppressed by their leaders, the Gambian individuals have confronted related challenges underneath restrictive management. By drawing parallels between the 2, we are able to higher perceive the necessity for constitutional reforms, training, and consciousness to empower the individuals and stop the rise of tyrannical leaders. As The Gambia displays on its sixty-year journey, it’s essential to be taught from the previous and attempt for a future the place management is accountable, time period limits are revered, and the nation’s potential is absolutely realized. We ought to have a good time the resilience of the Gambian individuals and work in direction of a brighter, extra equitable future for all. As we commemorate this essential milestone, we should additionally look to the longer term.
The baton has been handed to the youthful era, who maintain the important thing to The Gambia’s continued progress and improvement. It is crucial that we spend money on training, create alternatives for innovation, and foster a tradition of inclusivity and respect. By empowering our youth, we make sure that the legacy of our founding fathers lives on and that The Gambia continues to thrive as a nation of hope, resilience, and unity. Together, allow us to construct the Gambia we envision. If our forefathers achieved this, so can we. Yes, I imagine that collectively we are able to make a distinction. Let’s think about this imaginative and prescient. Happy Independence Day, Gambia!