Africa-Press – Gambia. Lamin F. Ceesay, a resident of Pakaliba and an aspirant for the United Democratic Party (UDP) flagbearer position, has stressed that The Gambia urgently needs change to address the persistent challenges in healthcare, agriculture, and governance. He pledged his unwavering support for the UDP, vowing to stand behind the party’s candidate for the 2026 presidential election.
“Yes, I have always been a member of the party, and I have never left the party, and selecting another person will not make me leave the party because I believe that UDP is on the right path, which can salvage the country,” Ceesay said.
Ceesay was particularly critical of the state of the country’s healthcare system, describing it as inadequate and unable to deliver basic services to citizens.
“When you go to our health sector, it is very sad. When you go to the public hospital, they refer you to private clinics. If those people are able to have their own medicines and equipment for certain scanning, what of the sitting government?” he asked.
On the economy, Ceesay condemned the government’s reliance on foreign loans to fund salaries and development projects, arguing that such dependence undermines true independence.
“In agriculture, we depend on outsiders. Sometimes when we say that we are independent, I used to feel bad about that, especially on Independence Day; we are not independent. Gambia cannot even pay its workers; we have to go for loans somewhere else to make those expenses talk less of development programs, so we need someone who is usually inclined to be able to tackle some of these issues, and I believe I am the guy,” he said.
Commenting on the party’s vetting process, Ceesay expressed confidence in the UDP’s democratic values and promised to accept the outcome in good faith.
“As the name entails, the United Democratic Party—you never know what is in the heart of the man. I believe that the United Democratic Party is a democratic party, so I believe in the process, and whatever the outcome is, I will accept it. We all know that UDP is not a one-man party; it belongs to all. Even if you join the party today, we become equal to all, and UDP is the only party that has that,” he emphasized.
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