HOPE:

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future. Work hard for what you want because, it won’t come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.

 Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

As Gambians anticipated for what the Barrow government and his administration will had delivered to its populace, I looked forward to the improvement of youth development and career as they are the present and future of the country. More emphasis should have be given in this sphere by bringing in more counseling centres and providing proper education and employment opportunities but rather instead these young people have been seen as threat to their political agenda and only considered as assets during campaign periods.

Uplifting the youth will at least motivate them to bring a change for I believe changing the world is easier said than done.

Our young people are seen languishing in police custody and prison centre while others die in the Meditarean Sea just grabbling for greener pastures.

The new government would and should need to also ensure a steady and a balanced economic growth with a conducive environment that will help to create new job opportunities, develop agriculture, industry and reposition our education and skills development effort as well as the empowerment of the socially marginalized and disabled.

In addition, continuing to depoliticise the system a lot of demotivated business leaders can be rejuvenated and re-energized by ensuring the stock exchange must no longer be allowed to be manipulated by a few. Therefore, checks and balances are needed to ensure the exchange attracts genuine investors and also to provide opportunities for a broader group of investors to benefit by investing in the stock exchange, to ensure this, the government should only act as a facilitator and that requires better regulation by making sure many of the regulations of tax and fees’ structure that are perceive as deterrent to and doing business removed via consultative process between the public and the private sector.

Therefore, what is required is for business to be done by the private sector and for the government to provide a level playing field and provide long-term investment-friendly policies that will benefit all businesses, irrespective of their affiliations.

We a nation to build and together we can change the narrative by speaking out and making sure we hold our government accountable.

Alieu Jallow
Senior Journalist