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The eight demands they put forward include: veto the Salaries and Pensions of Members of Congress Bill, veto the Judicial Remuneration and Other Benefits Bill, provide fair compensation for all civil servants, equitable distribution of state resources, accountability of members of Congress, promotion of social justice, involvement of voters before passing important bills, and introduction of new civil service pay scales.
“We will continue to closely monitor the legislative progress of the Judicial Officers Bill and the National Assembly Salaries and Pensions Bill and our position remains steadfast. If these bills are passed despite our hard advocacy, we are prepared to escalate our actions through nationwide protests,” said Lamin Manneh, an executive member of the pressure group.
At a press conference yesterday, Manneh added: “We remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving our demands and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice.”
Regarding the next steps, Manneh said: “We will continue our efforts to keep voters engaged and informed on key issues. The platforms we have established across the country will continue to operate, facilitating ongoing dialogue and mobilization. We urge all citizens to remain vigilant and fully informed.”
“We are prepared to organize nationwide protests. We emphasize that our demonstrations will remain peaceful and legal. Our commitment to justice and equality will guide our actions, and we will not resort to violence.”
He urged the executive, judiciary and National Assembly to listen to the voice of the people, adding: “These issues are crucial to the well-being and future of our country.”
“We call on you to take our concerns seriously and in the best interest of all Gambians. To the public, we ask for your vigilance, solidarity and proactivity. Your participation and support are essential in this fight for justice and equality.”
“We encourage you to continue to engage with your representatives and be prepared to join them in future protests if they do not meet our demands. Together we can create the change we seek,” he said.
“Despite our concerted efforts and engagement, we were unable to reach consensus. This outcome, while disappointing, is not entirely unexpected given the nature of our requests and the deep-seated resistance we encountered.”
“To counter this impasse, we have adopted a proactive strategy to amplify our message across the country. We have set up platforms in every constituency to engage the public and inform them about the issues.”
“We encourage all citizens to proactively communicate their concerns to their respective members of parliament.”
Commenting on the Judicial Officers Remuneration Bill and the National Assembly Members Remuneration and Pension Bill, he said: “Through our joint efforts, these two bills should have been resolved in the National Assembly before the recess, but they have been withdrawn due to the concerns raised by the protesters on July 8, 2024.”
“Nevertheless, we hope that Congress will publicly announce the withdrawal of these bills so that they can be documented and held accountable in the future.”
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