As the 1997 constitution of The Gambia demands, our head of state, who was re-elected in the recently concluded Nov 24, 2011 presidential election took an oath of office to run the affairs of The Gambia come the next five years.

President Yahya Jammeh swore to execute the functions of the Office of the President; to preserve and defend the constitution of the country; to do right to all manners of persons according to law without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; as well as to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the country according to the law.
     
Forgetting for now the constitutional issues FOROYAA newspaper raised in its Wednesday 18 edition regarding a presidential inauguration; and the controversies that marred the presidential election, it is therefore this paper’s wish to congratulate President Yahya Jammeh on his inauguration for his fourth term of office.

We would also like to commend Jammeh for setting out lofty plans and programmes that his administration intends to pursue and the lofty goals his government strives to achieve during this five years.

The theme infact could not be more relevant than the chosen one: Gambians united to build an Economic Superpower.”

For it is only when we unite in purpose while respecting our diversity that we could attain our targeted development aspirations.
The newly launched national development blueprint called Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment, which succeeds the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, is no doubt relevant, especially coming at the time the government is beginning a fresh mandate.

It is our hope that the PAGE will not be a failure as prior national development blueprints such as PRSP. For the latter failed in reducing poverty in The Gambia. Poverty and Hunger in The Gambia are infact on the rise, according to several studies.

We at The Daily News therefore, hope and prayed that the president and his cabinet will provide the environment where Gambians will live a life with freedom to express their views, rule of law, respect for human rights and democracy.

As Jammeh is sworn in for another five years, Gambians expect equal distribution of the national cake whether you are an APRC supporter or supporter of the opposition.

Development programmes of the government needs to cut across the board without any discrimination. Together, we can build The Gambia he Jammeh is talking about.

Governments come and go but the people of The Gambia remains. It is therefore prudent that the ruling APRC- led Jammeh government treat each and every Gambian with respect in accordance with the constitution which is the supreme law of the land.