Parliamentarian Sidia Jatta has said that left with him alone, tourism will not be funded or promoted by the government “because tourism has bring many ills into this country.” Jatta believes that tourism is a source of crime and corruption and should not be considered as a main source of income for the country.
“We must invest in agriculture, fisheries, and tourism… You know tourism; I don’t want to talk about it too much because for me, if it is there fine; if it is not there fine; even it wasn’t there fine; because tourism has bring many ills into this country; many ills; many ills; and many ill-gotten assets; many ill-gotten property; tourism has brought into this country,” the Wuli MP told deputies during the 2017-2018 year budget deliberations.
“It has brought crime and corruption and immorality, but since it has become what they say key foreign exchange earner; question mark; but that’s what they said; but I don’t say it; maybe I will not agree with it,” he added.
Mr. Jatta argued that the Gambia is a heaven on earth provided that the productive sectors of the economy are properly tapped. Unfortunately, he said sectors such as agriculture are dead—thanks to lack of political will and commitment to revamp the sector.
“I once said here that there are three sectors in this country, which are fundamental and crucial to our development; that’s education; and that’s agriculture; and that’s health.
“But there are also drivers; economic drivers that we must inject our resources in order to be able generate more revenue without borrowing,” Jatta noted.
The Wuli MP said the Gambia cannot afford a cosmetic change in this new dispensation. He called for attitudinal change in our quest to develop the country.
“We cannot afford to be new wines in new bottles. That’s why we fought to reactionary regime. I say it here and I repeat: We cannot be wines in old bottles. There will be an explosion. We have to be new wines in new bottles. That’s what we meant; that’s what we sacrificed; the campaign went for twenty-four hours; I have never seen it in my life; twenty four hours campaign; nonstop; why because we wanted to get rid of that reactionary regime that was stifling life; stifling everything. Your Commissions are proofing that,” he said.
Mr. Jatta also questioned if the Gambia is indeed a sovereign nation. He cited the lack of sincerity among politicians to live up to their promise to the electorate.
“ Why are we behaving as if we have not sacrificed our lives to be free; to free our people; this is not enough; it is a nation. Is it even a nation? No; because it lacks something that’s fundamental; can you imagine agriculture 4.72%. According to the minister, they are allocation 4.72% to agriculture; that’s what we have generated. The rest is either a loan or a grant,” he said.
“So, 4.72% is very far from 10% and 10% is insignificant to agricultural development. But it is just a starting point; that 10%.. And the figures you been quoting; you have been given allowances more than one hundred and seventeen million. What allowance? When you have food to eat and you want allowance? Hey.. What is this? The people we represent don’t have three square meals a day. Some one square meal; go to Serre-Kunda; nobody cooks twice; only once; the rest fankung-fankung. So, this is not what we have fought for,” he added.
Jatta maintains that as long, as the government is not willing to do away with foreign aid, the country will continue to be underdeveloped.
“So, to put matters simply, honorable minister and my dear friends from the ministry of finance; I have said it; and I would have said it again; poverty will never end in this country with loans and grants. Never, ever; it will keep on going up; never downwards. How are we going to end it? We must invest the resources we have into our productive sectors; forget about this thing that they are training. You see training under one place one thousand times; what type of training? Under ministry of trade, the different sectors they are training; training, training, conference, conference; and they said there are committees. I don’t know what committees. I hope they are not giving you some money; your committees here because that’s what I have seen under the ministry of health,” he said.
Jatta also questioned the authenticity contained in the budget estimates; especially in respect of the president’s office. He wondered as to why each year the president’s office would be allocated budget to buy new furniture among others.
“So, this time we are going to open our eyes; I am sorry; we are going to open our eyes; wherever there is money, which we think is not necessary, we will take it from there and put it where we think is necessary. That’s what must do. You keep on buying furniture and it is always the same amount. What type of furniture is that? They think that we are not using our heads. It is December; we scrutinize it and say do it. This time, we have been reborn; we have been reborn; and reborn; we belong to a new Gambia; new thinking; new approach; everything will change; here everything must change; we are tired; we can defend ourselves; and that’s what we are going to ensure,” he posited.
Jatta also argued that the world would be ruled from the continent of Africa in years ahead. He said he is very optimistic about Africa’s future.
The post Gambia: Breaking News: Sidia Jatta Doesn’t Want Tourism To Be Funded Or Promoted Because He Says “It Has Brought Crime, Corruption And Immorality In The Gambia.” appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.