It is rather unfortunate that this has happened to our compatriots – diplomats in this case. The government must diligently probe the matter.
Mr President, it has been noticed that the Foreign Service is politicised which has affected the standard requirements of the service and that needs to be addressed. Diplomacy is not a jump-and-take job. It’s a professional job and therefore only those with knowledge and experience should be appointed to handle such jobs contrary to how it is happening nowadays. It is such a job that whatever is done in public or secret is reflected on the surface.
Your government should consider sending high-level characters to the Foreign Service who will represent the country with impeccable character and good conduct. Although it is an allegation, we expect your government to take it with utmost seriousness and conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the whole issue.
Mr President, any Gambian diplomat posted abroad must understand the contents of the Gambia’s Foreign Policy (GFP), Gambia’s Foreign Service Regulations (GFSR), Vienna Convention (VC) and the local laws of the diplomat’s host country. Failure to understand these foreign diplomatic rules and regulations can lead to repetitive scandals especially now that the Pandora's Box is open.
Mr President, the University of The Gambia (UTG) and The Management Development Institute can also be used to provide training to the country’s Foreign Service staff including those non-career diplomats who are assigned to the diplomatic service of the country and to provide equally training on government and administrative system to increase the capacity of public servants in service delivery.
The University of The Gambia is also offering courses in International Relations and Diplomacy and the products of such a school will greater impact the development of the country.
There are well-qualified, experienced and seasoned administrators and diplomats in the country who have retired and would be willing to offer lectureships at this school and to give professional and technocratic advice to the government on all sectors of the economy. Other countries that are moving forward make use of their trained manpower.
Mr President, retired diplomat, Ebrima Ousmane Ndure, who is the chief executive officer of Diplomacy Etiquette and Protocol Consulting (DEPC) has established in December 2020, a training institution called diplomatic protocol and Etiquette. We urge the Government to support this great initiative to enroll future Gambian diplomats and protocols.
Finally Mr. President, Kenya has established a School of Government where public servants receive training on government functions and service delivery. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is world renowned. There is also one in Dakar called ENAM and a lot of other training schools or institutes around the world. The Gambia can also do it if we are committed as a nation to better our foreign service.
Good day!