By: Hon. Foday NM Drammeh, former NAM, Tumana
NAWEC is not only making life hard for the residents of the Gambia but instead most of the businesses are being affected by the erratic nature of electricity supply by the Gambian power grid.
The Gambia wants its citizens and non-citizens alike to invest heavily in the country. But it’s clear that some massive investments cannot happen without an adequate and stable power supply.
What always baffles me is that, whenever President Adama Barrow appears on National Television to talk to Gambians about Water and Electricity, he always sounds as if The Gambia has excess capacity to supply not only the subregion but, the whole world.
Barrow, just for once talk to Gambians and tell them what they need to know about the issues surrounding the water and electricity supply in the Gambia.
One thing every Gambian should know to their fingertips is that, for our government to provide us with the basic amenities such as portable water, reliable electricity, affordable healthcare services, quality education, guaranteed security, and many more others is never a privilege but a constitutional right enshrined in the 1997constitution.
I hope that this current situation or happenings regarding NAWEC’s appalling services will not be blamed on UDP or lawyer Darboe for undermining and sabotaging Barrow and his NPP government.
Gambians do not also want you and your NPP to scapegoat the dire electricity situation with the ongoing geopolitical Russia-Ukraine war. Because it seems to us that that is the escapism your administration has mastered and is brainwashing Gambians with.
I think time is up for Barrow’s government to stop playing with the lives and livelihoods of the Gambian people, and take our collective affairs seriously.
NAWEC is one of the SOEs that the people of the Gambia are putting a lot of money in as subsidies to render public utility services help them run the day-to-day affairs to Gambians to able to embark on their daily socio-economic activities. But it’s awful how NAWEC treats Gambians with utter contempt and impunity. Also, as a public institution, NAWEC is expected to pay annual dividends to the State but it has not been responding to this obligation for years, betraying the contract it has with all Gambians.
In this current situation, what will be the fate of Gambians, because this awful experience cannot be business as usual?
The Gambia is a sovereign state, so we cannot continue to rely on another state or state for continuous power supply. It’s not sustainable, given the cost and other matters related to it. We can only do that as a short-term measure, but for far too long, Barrow’s administration has been making no efforts to address this nagging issue. The Barrow Administration seems too lackadaisical in running the affairs of The Gambia and in providing the basic amenities for the Gambians.
If Barrow claims to win the last elections, which I doubted, then that shows how much the people of the Gambia loves him and his NPP.
It’s often said to whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, Barrow, Gambians deserve better!
By now, Gambians should know that Barrow is not serious about the things that affect them and their lives and livelihoods. If the energy that Barrow uses on his political opponents on a daily basis is directed to addressing the issues affecting the lives and the livelihoods of the people of The Gambia, The Gambia would have attained Singapore Status.
Until we kick Barrow out of State House in the forthcoming elections, we may continue to live in and by the political propaganda and the illusions of lies and empty promises that benefit no Gambian.
