This
year, the number of Gambians that would be allowed for pilgrimage in Mecca is
1,700, the Amir ul-Hajj of The Gambia has said.
Dr
Ousman Jah said Saudi Arabia determines each country’s quota per population at
1,000 pilgrims per 1 million population.
“This
year The Gambia has received an allotment for 1700 pilgrims,” he said during a
meeting this week between President Adama Barrow and members of the Gambia Hajj
Commission, who called on him the president at his office in Fajara.
Dr
Jah said in addition to the 1,700 pilgrims, 20 officials from the Hajj
Commission which includes Gambia International Airline staff and health
officials would be cleared to facilitate the administration of the Hajj.
The
Amir ul-Hajj also gave an account of the various steps taken to improve the
management of the Hajj, including use of new technology for the relevant
transactions with the Saudis.
He
said it was a requirement of the Saudi authorities that each country must have
a Hajj commission to avoid political interference in the management of the
Hajj.
He
explained that the Saudi government worked through diplomatic missions but the
logistical issues of the Hajj are arranged through Hajj commissions.
The
ten-man commission took the opportunity to appeal for the government support to
provide logistics to facilitate the work of the Gambia Hajj Commission.
Commission
member Imam Baba Leigh called for government to support the commission’s
endeavour to provide the very best for Gambian pilgrims, and to improve the
country’s image.
Meanwhile,
President Barrow has pledged to work with institutions like the Gambia Hajj
Commission and the Supreme Islamic Council to provide the support that they
need.
He
called on the religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence, and said the
selection of commission members should always be based on their qualifications
and experience in Hajj matters.
While
commending the Gambia Hajj Commission for its management of Hajj matters, the president
said his government would develop a policy to guide the liberalisation of Hajj
travel arrangements by 2018.
