The Leader of the United Democratic Party, and Presidential Candidate, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe says the upcoming elections in December will be about shared choices, both for the Gambia and individual voters.
Darboe who was cleared by the electoral commission along with five other candidates is currently on the campaign trail seeking for votes via the UDP 5 point agenda.
“The upcoming election will be about shared choices, both for the nation and individual voters. It will be a referendum on a corrupt and failed government that has squandered the golden opportunity to pivot our country. Therefore, I call on all our members and supporters to work with like minded citizens who care about a better Gambia wherever they maybe to end this train wreck and give our hearts to democracy. Our nation, Our People, deserves honest, selfless, and competent leadership that is focused on addressing the challenges we face and harnessing them,” the UDP leader said.
He said the UDP is more than a political party adding: ‘It is an idea etched into the hearts and minds of its membership and supporters. As we have done since the founding of UDP we will in consensus with other citizens be at the forefront of the battle against the re-introduction of the tyrannical rule in The Gambia.’
Darboe urged all Gambians to join the UDP noting: ‘I ask for your support and vote in the upcoming presidential elections. I reiterate our stance on tolerance, peace, unity and harmony.’
On the plight of young people, Darboe said: “To you the young who now have the opportunity to influence our common future. We believe in The Gambia, because we believe in you and we want you to take advantage of this opportunity and vote for us.”
According to Mr Darboe the primary reasons for young people to vote for a UDP government include its commitment:
To creating a conducive environment; setting the right framework and facilitating collaboration with the private sector to ensure youths obtain the right skills leading to their increased employability and/or business acumen, Establish 10 specialised skills centers through skills enhancement zones and provide facilities for trainers to enhance skills in technology, sports and entrepreneurship, Establish a youth empowerment fund to develop local commercial and business entities and establish Trade and Commerce Associations and arrangements with partners to create trading posts for commodities in the country (Trade Hubs), Establish a policy of awarding a sizeable percentage of government contracts and projects to youths and youth enterprises as part of youth empowerment, Promote and protect local enterprises and industries through an Indigenous Economic Empowerment Framework to ensure government purchases locally produced materials to promote job growth and local economic empowerment among others.
He promised youths that UDP will provide investments in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism and establish reforms aimed at empowering youth participation and deliver opportunities for women to engage in meaningful employment with employment rights and equal pay for equal work between men and women fully protected under the law.
Darboe said a UDP government will also create an enabling environment to ensure a culture of self-employment in which people in self-employment will be provided with support through business policies, ease of doing business and the tax system, alongside the establishment of Mandatory Youth Service Schemes after high school and provision of standard sports infrastructure throughout the country with adequate financing for all sports.
