The
new Gambian government continues to build its diplomatic relations
globally. President Adama Barrow
yesterday received letters of credence from the new ambassadors of Turkey, the
United Kingdom and Guinea Bissau.
President
Barrow told all three envoys that The Gambia was open to all nations, and it
sought friendship and cordial relations with all countries. He said he expected The Gambia’s relations
with other nations to enhance cooperation for the socio-economic development of
The Gambia and those countries.
Presenting
his credentials, Ambassador Ismail Sefa Yuceer of Turkey assured President
Barrow that during his tenure of service in The Gambia, Turkey would work with
The Gambian authorities to strengthen ties in education, health, fisheries and
mechanised agriculture, while also looking at investment in trade, energy and
telecommunication.
Ambassador
Yuceer has been a career diplomat since 1991 and has served diplomatic
assignments in various countries. He
arrived in The Gambia in November 2016 but the presentation of his credentials
was delayed because of the political impasse in The Gambia early this year. His
diplomatic tour of duty as Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia will be for two
years.
Britain’s
new diplomatic envoy to The Gambia, Ambassador Sharon Wardle, also presented
her credentials to President Barrow.
Ambassador
Wardle intends to build on the long-standing relationship between The Gambia
and the United Kingdom. She commended
President Barrow and his team for their leadership, noting that they had set an
example of democracy worthy of emulation.
She
said The Gambia and the United Kingdom enjoyed a long history of association,
which would continue to flourish.
Speaking
with reporters after her audience with the President, the Ambassador said
Gambians could expect to see a boost in tourism from the UK, a sector that had
always been strong, given the large number of tourists who come to The Gambia
from Britain. The tourism sector is expected to create jobs for the youth.
Ambassador
Wardle spoke of the UK’s continued support to The Gambia in higher education
with the Chevening scholarships. Other
areas she highlighted for cooperation were justice, capacity building for the
Gambian legislature and women’s empowerment through the UK Department for
International Development (DFID).
The
Gambia’s long-standing cordial relationship with the UK was disrupted when the
former Jammeh regime withdrew its membership from the Commonwealth in October
2013. Ambassador Wardle assured President Barrow that the UK was fully
supportive of The Gambia’s return to the Commonwealth, and she confirmed that
the process to make this happen was underway at the Commonwealth Secretariat in
London.
Ambassador
Wardle joined the Foreign and Commonwealth office in 1985, and has had
diplomatic assignments in Moscow, Beirut, Riyadh and Yemen, serving in various
capacities.
The
third and final credentials ceremony of the day was the presentation of letters
of credence by Ambassador Mailo Cassama of Guinea Bissau. The new envoy reiterated the historic ties
between Guinea Bissau and The Gambia, dating all the way back to the Kaabu
Empire. He said he intended to nurture
the continued ties between the two countries during his diplomatic tour of duty
in Banjul.
Ambassador
Cassama also spoke of the two countries’ membership in sub-regional and
regional bodies. He expressed confidence in a strengthening of bilateral
relations in defense and security, immigration, tourism and culture. He also said
that the two countries could benefit from sharing experience in cashew farming.
Ambassador
Cassama started his career as a banker in 1982, rising to become a financial
administrator. He became Adviser to the
Guinea Bissau President in 2013, and a year later moved to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, before his appointment as Ambassador.
Several
members of the Gambian cabinet were present at the credentials
presentations. They were the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Ousainou
Darboe; Interior Minister Ahmad Mai Fatty; Trade, Industry and Employment
Minister Isatou Touray; Petroleum and Energy Minister Fafa Sanyang; and
Fisheries and Water Resources Minister James Gomez.
Other
senior officials were Secretary to Cabinet Isatou Auber-Faal, and Permanent
Secretaries Njogu Saeer Bah and Ebrima Ceesay from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, and the Office of the
President, respectively.
