HERE IS THE PDOIS COUNCIL ELECTION CANDIDATES FOR BANJUL BOX BAR WARD PRESENTING HIS PROGRAMME OR MANIFESTO TO THE ELECTORATE
I have been voluntarily serving the inhabitants of Box Bar Ward, in particular, and the City of Banjul, in general, for many years now through my involvement in various social and community related activities.
Now I am seeking the direct mandate of the people in order to continue serving them by contesting as a Councillor under the ticket of PDOIS in the forthcoming 12 April 2018 local government elections.
As a PDOIS Candidate, I stand for a Transparent, Responsive and Effective Banjul City Council (BCC) that is capable of bringing about a Cleaner, Habitable and Thriving City for its inhabitants.
PLEDGE
I wish to solemnly pledge, if elected into office as a Councillor for Box Bar Ward, that I will commit myself to serving the community and city of Banjul, in accordance with the laws or powers and functions of Local Government institutions as well as the PDOIS principles of commitment, dedication and selfless service to the sovereign people of the Gambia. In my stewardship as an elected City Councillor, I will ensure the following:
Transparency in the operation of the Banjul City Council by pushing for Council proceedings to be made open to the public as required by Section 30 of the Local Government Act, 2002 as well as the practice of democracy and good governance.
Accountability to the electorate for all moneys that accrue to the Council from levies, taxes, government subvention and other legitimate sources.
Responsiveness of Council to the concerns and needs of the inhabitants in terms of the provision of essential, timely and efficient services by proactively participating in the planning and implementation of programmes and projects, Community participation by pushing for the involvement of the people in the conception and execution of development plans at both the Ward and City levels.
Effectiveness of the Council in utilising its resources for the development of the city and the welfare of its inhabitants by putting in place an efficient and robust waste management system, good infrastructure, improved social services, etc.
Innovation geared towards identifying other alternative sources of none tax revenue for the Council to increase its resource base in order to be able to sustain the provision of the much needed services.
Community participation by pushing for the involvement of the people in the conception and execution of development plans at both the Ward and City levels.
WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO CONTEST?
As a sovereign Gambian citizen, I am exercising my right to stand for election under a PDOIS ticket in order to provide for the Box Bar Ward, in particular, and the inhabitants of Banjul, in general, the type of political representation at the local government level that puts the interest of the people first before self. I felt oblige to contest in this election in order to get the mandate of the people to help find solutions to reverse the trend of a rapid decline and deterioration of the city in terms of infrastructure, sanitation, population, social and economic activities. The present condition of the streets, drainage system and the environmental sanitation, among others, leaves much to be desired and therefore needs urgent action. Hence, the city of Banjul is in dire need of essential social services, infrastructure and other amenities, e.g. recreational activities, etc.
If elected into office, I will be engaging in scrutinizing the revenue collection and budget of Council to ensure that the resources are available and properly utilised to provide for the necessary services to the residents of the city.
I will be engaging all the stakeholders within the ward and municipality to participate in initiatives and activities aimed at improving the conditions of their neighbourhoods as well as promoting their welfare.
The quality representation characterised by clarity, humility, commitment and devotion to the welfare of the people, as being amply demonstrated by the current National Assembly Members of PDOIS both inside and outside of the National Assembly, is what I will endeavor to do when elected to office as Councillor.
WHO IS SHEIKH TIJAN JAGNE?
Sheikh Tejan Jagne, commonly known as Papa Sikh Jagne, was born on the 27th November 1950. He attended St. Mary’s Primary School from where he proceeded to the ultra-modern Crab Island Secondary School and graduated in 1966. He then attended the Gambia Technical School at Half Die in 1967 and was awarded a scholarship in 1972 to study at Mt. Ida Junior College in Newton Massachusetts, USA. After completing his sophomore, he proceeded to St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina. He then decided to take electronics at Control Data Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, where he graduated in 1980. He worked for a private electronic business company in Atlanta before returning home in February 1987.
In 1988, Mr. Jagne was engaged on contract at the Catholic Relief Service (CRS) as a Computer Administrator for seven 7 months after which he was appointed as Manager, Computer Department, at the Gambia Utilities Corporation (GUC) in 1989. After two years of hard work and dedication at this public utilities corporation, he took up a job at the then BICI in Banjul as Assistant Manager at the Computer Department. He worked in this bank in various departments for 19 years until his retirement and had witnessed the transfers of ownership from BICI to IBC and then to PHB.
Since his return home from studies in the US, Mr. Jagne has also been dedicating his spare time to community service within his neighbourhood. He is actively involved in various voluntary community services ranging from involvement in mosque management committees to environmental cleansing exercises called ‘Set Setal’. His honesty, integrity and high sense of duty has earned him the trust and confidence of both the elders and young people within Box Bar Ward to the extent that he is included in the management committees of all the three mosques in the area. His modesty, tolerance and respect for others has also endeared him to many people regardless of religious, ethno-linguistic and other parochial considerations.
He is a respectable family man who is interested in promoting the welfare of families as well as concern about the upbringing of children to grow into adulthood and become responsible members of society.
NOTE FROM THE EDITORS: The Gambia Times has not endorsed candidates in the local government elections but provides a platform to publish and disseminate their manifestos to the electorates. The Times encourages all candidates to send in their manifestos for publication in their quest to propagate their ideas and win the support of the voters in their respective wards and localities. Candidates may send their manifestos and press releases to info@thegambiatimes.com for publication.