The President of The Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, has reiterated his resolve to continue on his development plans for the country.

"By the grace and mercy of Allah (the Almighty)," he said, "my vision and desire to move the country forward will be achieved at all costs, except human life." President Jammeh also said that with his faith in God, he will always be there to serve the interest of The Gambian people.

The Gambian leader made these statements yesterday, at his office at State House in Banjul, while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the new appointees to Cabinet, Dr Njogu Bah as the secretary to Cabinet, Abdoulie M Sallah as the secretary general and head of the Civil Service, and Tenengba Jaiteh as deputy minister of Petroleum. Also being sworn-in were Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, as chief justice of The Gambia; Justice Esther Awo Ota, as president of The Gambia Court of Appeal; Justice Gilbert Abiodun Obayan and Justice James Barnabas Kilaile, as judges of the Court of Appeal; and Emmanuel Fangbenle, former director of public prosecution, as a judge of the High Court.

Addressing the gathering, the Gambian leader expressed his perpetual interest in the judiciary, citing the fact that in the absence of the rule of law, there cannot be any peace. "Without effective justice delivery," he said, "there may be rapid development. But the question that needs to be asked," he added, "is how sustainable that development will be?" President Jammeh noted that his interference in the judiciary is prompted by the unnecessary dragging of cases. However, he was quick to add that he is aware of the fact that some of the cases get delayed as a result of the fact that some of the witnesses travel long distances to attend court proceedings. But he warned the Gambian judiciary against aiding criminals, saying that if they continue doing this, they themselves will one day become criminals. "Whether people frown or smile, I will make sure that efficient justice delivery is done to the latter," he stressed.

The Gambian leader also dwelled on the escalating rate of murder cases in the country, which he said will no longer be tolerated. "I should have cleaned up the judiciary a long time," he said, "but as I used to do, I always give people a second chance". President Jammeh added "one thing that is certain in life is that we know where we are, but we know not where we will end." He then assured the new appointees to the justice sector that they have all the powers to clean the system, saying, "I am losing patience with the system".  According to President Jammeh, it is better not to have a judicial system than to have a corrupt and treacherous one. "It is only we, the human beings, who can make this world a heaven, and we can also make it a hell. So let us do what is right and right will follow us," he said.

Calling on government departments to work according to the constitution and to do as expected of them, President Jammeh said that he had just started with the courtyard, and that he has not even reached the veranda and "by the time I reach the living room, I will use any detergent, whether harmful or not, to clean."

Marie Saine Firdaus, attorney general and minister of Justice, said The Gambia is developing fast, and the constitution is expected to provide an enabling environment as well as ensure peace and stability. She thanked the appointees for accepting the president's offer of appointment. "Even though you are not all Gambians," she said, "I believe that you all have the same objectives as we do, for development". Like the Gambian leader, the Justice minister equally expressed disenchantment over the protracted nature of cases in courts. But she expressed hope that with the coming of this new crop of people into the justice system, the problems of the judiciary will be addressed. "In as much as adjournments cannot be absent, courts must work hard to reduce them," she said.

The attorney general then called on Gambians, particularly witnesses in courts, to come forward to help the police in their investigations and prosecutions. She thanked the Gambian leader for the appointments and assured the appointees of government's full support in due execution of their duties. Abdoulie M Sallah, the newly appointed secretary general and head of the Civil Service, acknowledged that the aim of the Gambian leader is to develop the country in all respects, in terms of the administration of justice.

SG Sallah joined the rest of the speakers at the meeting in stressing the need to address the frequent delay in cases at courts, expressing hope that the new appointees into the judiciary will work extra hard to ensure a speedy and improved dispensation of justice. For his part, the newly appointed chief justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, thanked the Gambian leader for the appointment, stating that "to whom much is given, much is expected." He assured The Gambian leader and his government that he will live up to standards, as expected of him, in the execution of the office of chief justice.

CJ Agim also used the occasion to thank President Jammeh for his Guinea Bissau peace initiative, which, he said, is a clear manifestation of his visionary  leadership qualities. "You have, in all your public speakings, expressed dissatisfaction about the dispensation of justice, but I will assure you that all will be addressed," he promised. "As indicated in the Justice Strategic Integral Paper of The Gambia," Agim said, "I will do all my best to make sure that there is reduction in the  duration of trials and in turn encourage the application of relevant sections of the Constitution.

Chief Justice Agim then called on his colleagues to have the mentality that as judges, they must recognize that they have a big responsibility to carry out. The newly appointed president of the Court of Appeal also said that their appointments were a true demonstration of President Jammeh's interest in ensuring an effective justice system.