On the Nomination of a new Chief Justice for the Gambia:
Speaking up comes with risks, but no one should be appointed to high level positions if you never authored articles or books, especially in our age. You cannot force media houses to publish you, but we all have social media to fulfill our ‘transparent mind’ or love responsibility.
Cowards and the worst of people understand the dangers of speaking up, so they choose silence until it personally benefits them. Interviews are not enough, and paid work is not the best way to gauge ‘love’ or fit for public service.
Can someone name 3 to 10 people who are more than constitutionally fit for the chief justice position or any high position is what a good president or Parliament should ask to nominate or approve? Meeting the constitutional requirements is like the basic, it does not mean qualified or the best person for any position.
Politicians tend to follow their interests, but even ministers or lower than ministers should be well known on not just national issues, but international issues. A minister who never opined on international matters will be what kind of a diplomat? Likely submissive like many African leaders or robbers. Similarly, all opposition leaders should be speaking up on international issues… Well, even sitting African leaders tend to whisper and never or rarely speak up on international matters. They become unfit, submissive, etc. They are not world leaders and sell excuses like we are a ‘small country’, international politics is complex, we are poor, etc.
Ch. 90: ‘we gave you a tongue’ for a purpose; and ch.103 demands ‘we exhort each other to truth…’ beyond personal interest or after nomination. Well, the risk of speaking up includes criticising who may rule or nominate you; you may share illusions that may be scrutinised, etc. However, you defend your position or admit where you were wrong by citing where you were right.
Me criticising Barrow or xyz means no nomination if he is thin skin, or look at where I defended him on which principles? Me or you seemingly opposing personal rights in ‘fear or illusions’ mean where did I stand up for personal rights in which ways? Sometimes, speaking up even means ‘I am clean in public and behind closed doors’. After nomination or approval, top appointments means occasional ‘private disagreement’ with up to the president, but tolerable loyalty in humility and in the very spirit of tolerance. An opinionated person may slightly disagree with even God at times, but will humbly give thanks, ask, and have patience. I wish God was conquering against liars and cruel ones much more, but History reveals that is largely the direction.
Among the top Gambian law practitioners, who favors mandatory education or strong culture of cameras, preferably with evidence? I think such should be the chief Justice. May be we need to change even the way we nominate. A shortlist for the president or does a president understand the importance of choice or a list? Being famous or connected seem to lead to nomination or the lack there of? Does cabinet or a committee get to suggest on the shortlist based on which arguments before the president or xyz decides? I strongly believe a public record of nominees matters . Again, it could be as little as social media posts, but formal education, work experience, etc should not be enough for a certain level of public office. Similarly was my position when a ‘foreigner ‘ was hired to try Jammeh’s era…
We must consistently have ways of selecting leaders. Just because you or xyz have not seen articles by Mr. Faal does not mean it does not exist. However, I think such matters and rightly raising it or denying him as ‘reckless gamble’ will put pressure on people to be speaking up. A British or xyz citizen who verifiably fought against injustices in multiple countries may be better than a Gambian lawyer or xyz who was cowardly silent during Jammeh’s crimes. Those complaining about foreign chief justices of the past are ignorant of evolution or simply xenophobic. The Gambia and many countries did not have enough qualified judges until when? It makes no sense to insist they must be citizens until you train enough. So we cannot credit Barrow just because he nominates a Gambian.
We should suggest how Barrow or xyz creates a shortlist and be consistent in how we oppose or support it. The Gambia being a small country with huge interrelationships means me and many folks may be related to Mr. Faal or whoever is nominated? How should I vote as an MP? Party lines, relationships, personal interest, conscience, etc? Should we include a secret ballot on approval and if the difference is more than 10% or xyz then we let the secret ballot verdict above the public vote? Marbles or which methods can be used in secret ballot in and beyond Parliament? Public or open vote is vital due to the arguments and learning by the public. TRUMP , Barrow, and many leaders understand such an idea can get them in trouble or be much better. The idea is Gambian or belongs to God for the willing to learn, but until the u.s or a Western country adopts it, it may seem too strange to some Westerners and Western-worshipping Africans. Intellectual honesty matters. So let us honestly admit it will greatly help even in mighty u.s, but much more in tiny Gambia. Who will sponsor the private bill for such in the Gambia, forward to u.s + politicians, sell the idea to podcasters and the public, etc? We have cowards+ to cater for, but the arrogant rule over us and want to intimidate those who vote against their preferred positions.
Mr. Faal, Alagie Yorro, Jawara, etc all expressed which opinions or ideas that could contain the Trump like? I present mine with gratitude. I learn from the u.s, but also teach them, whether they learn or not. Is Mr. Faal or xyz fit to be Chief Justice, Attorney General, or xyz in the u.? What is his mindset on issues that matter much more than his birth citizenship or other types of citizenship? If Africa Unites, we would not be arguing if A Nigerian Judge can be a Chief Justice in the Gambia or the reverse. Character matters much more, and speaking up is a vital aspect of character. I am arguably rightly hard on President Jawara, but I will not criticize his nominations of ‘foreigners’, except for the methods he used. Now, the Gambia is maturing and have many qualified folks for many positions. The most vital question is how many are qualified and who is the best among them based on which grounds. The Gambian Intellectual community should be debating such, not accept whatever Barrow or xyz presents with one sided facts.
We understand many Gambians are ‘prostitute minded’, so the higher pay of the west may draw and keep you there until major opportunities come your way? Visiting professor, doctor, lawyer, etc for weeks is not enough, we demand at least five years service for the Gambia or any African or poor country in love. Where are the Engineers who can work in a team in love, with or without Researchers Access Store (RAS)? Many of you adore western capitalism, ‘money worshipping’ in worse than prostitutes, but where is the philosophy of Africans and systems yet to exist even in the west, but still good systems or ideas…
A secret ballot on approval of people and other bills is good, but we need what percentage of differences or which criteria to choose the verdict of the secret ballot over public/open vote? On impeachment and many things, getting above 3/4 through a secret ballot should mean removal, regardless of what the public vote results were.
SUCH will force presidents+ to act right and argue over order and intimidate… Your Democrats or the whole western world cannot test me on some issues. May God bless me and the willing regardless of who sits as president, chief justice, or anything. Lovism beats Capitalism even on judicial matters and yet to be implemented feasible great ideas.
