Commonwealth
Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland has rolled out the red carpet for
The Gambia to return to the Commonwealth close knit family of nations.
The
Gambia under the government of outgoing President Yahya Jammeh in 2013 left the
Commonwealth, for ‘lack of fair deals and unequal opportunities’ in the club of
nations.
Since
then The Gambia has remained out of the Commonwealth hence has lost diplomatic
status and other benefits accorded by the body to its members.
But
in her congratulatory message welcoming the results of The Gambia’s December 1,
2016 presidential election, which has ushered in a new president and
dispensation, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said the doors of
Commonwealth remain open for The Gambia to return to the close knit family of
nations.
“When
The Gambia left the Commonwealth in 2013, heads of government meeting in
Colombia that year noted this decision with regret, and looked forward to the
country’s eventual return. Like every close knit family, our Commonwealth doors
remain open,” the Secretary-General said while congratulating The Gambia for
the example it has set in holding a peaceful, transparent and free and fair
election.
