Fajara
16 August 2017 – President Barrow has stressed the importance of peaceful
coexistence among Gambians of all faiths. Receiving Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye
of Dakar today, President Barrow spoke of the need for continued religious
tolerance between Christians and Muslims in The Gambia.
Archbishop
Ndiaye was in Banjul to celebrate the Christian feast of the Assumption – also
known locally as ‘Sang Marie’ – at the invitation of Gambia’s Christian
community. His visit also coincided with the 60th Anniversary of the Catholic
diocese of Banjul.
The
Gambian leader spoke of the historic ties between The Gambia and Senegal. He
described -Archbishop Ndiaye’s visit as one that helped strengthen the family
ties between the two countries. President Barrow urged all religious leaders to
continue to pray for peace. He told the
delegation, which included members of the Catholic diocese of Banjul, that it
was peace that inspired the needed investor confidence to promote economic
development. Archbishop Ndaiye said during the celebration of Sang Marie
yesterday, he was encouraged by the solidarity of Muslim religious leaders from
Banjul. He prayed for success and peace for the Barrow administration and for
humanity at large.
Archbishop
Ndiaye told journalists that The Gambia had been a secular state until the
former president declared it to be an Islamic state, which he said almost
jeopardized the religious tolerance that Gambians shared. He said new government was here to serve
Gambians of all faith and not those of a particular religion.
Vicar
Emil Sambou of the local Catholic diocese earlier expressed similar
sentiments. He said that the people of
The Gambia and Senegal were in solidarity in their belief in one God through
different ways. Gambian Fisheries Minister James F.P Gomez praised the maturity
that President Barrow demonstrated as a leader in promoting religious tolerance
among citizens. Mr Gomez said Christians
in the country felt they were part of the government, with the presence of
three Christian members in the Barrow cabinet. He thanked the Archbishop for
preaching his message of peace.
Others
Gambian cabinet ministers present at the meeting were the Minister of Basic and
Secondary Education, Claudiana Cole, and Youth Minister Henry Gomez. , Also in
attendance was Presidential Adviser on Religious Affairs, Alhajie Dembo Bojang,
among other senior officials.