Minister Tangara urges reform in Foreign Service appointments, alerting it should be done in the right way. He specifically makes a clarion call for integrity, discipline and meritocracy in the country’s diplomatic missions.
Mr President, we think the foreign minister is right. In deed our diplomats should be good ambassadors, and should be trained before being sent for any diplomatic missions.
They should have the requisite training like Diplomatic Etiquette Protocol Consulting (DEPC) from Institutions managed by veteran diplomat Ebou NDour or MDI School of Diplomacy and International Relations, where retired diplomats can play a great role through training and knowledge transfer.
The diplomatic service should not be a dumping ground, nor should it be politicised, which is somehow the case with ours and shows a sense of doom hanging over our country, as it is highly telling on the performance and productivity of our diplomatic service.
Mr President, since you assumed office in 2017, 10 diplomats have been recalled over queer circumstances. Empirical evidences are: in 2018 in Morocco, a protocol officer had his finger chopped off allegedly bitten by his boss, and they were recalled.
In January 2021, a Gambian diplomat in Russia assaulted his maid and lover, a Cameroonian, and was recalled. Surprisingly he is still working in the service!
In July 2023, 4 Gambian diplomats were expelled from the United States of America for allegedly involving in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status among them visa fraud allegation. The deputy head of mission, who was at the Gambia Embassy in the US at that time, has now been posted to the Gambia High Commission in Nigeria.
In February 2024, two Gambian diplomats in Cuba were recalled from the Gambia embassy in that country for fighting in the office out of personal grievances. One of them - the deputy ambassador - has now been re-posted to serve at the Gambia High Commission in Senegal!
In February 2024, the Gambia deputy ambassador to Mauritania was recalled for alleged misuse of funds.
Mr President, it is expected that all those officials involved in the above diplomatic scandals should have been removed from the Service. Gambians are baffled and are asking why diplomats who have misused their offices and have brought shame and disgrace to the nation are still working in the service.
Your government should set an example; otherwise misconduct will become the order of the day. Ambassadors who do not perform as expected should be replaced.
Prudently, as a matter of fact, the number of our embassies, which is currently 23, should be cut down to save money for other essential services to the nation. We should maintain only those embassies or foreign missions of much benefit to the country.
Mr President, of concern also is the need for European countries, through their consulates, to facilitate or make it possible for Gambians to carry out the transactions of processing their Schengen visas in The Gambia.
Furthermore the Gambia government should put forward its case to the U.S. government not to close the U.S. Embassy in The Gambia; otherwise it will cause enormous issues for Gambians. For instance, travelling to Senegal for visa processing will be one of the difficulties our nationals will face.
Tobaski
Mr President, the Supreme Islamic Council has announced Eid Ul Adha for June 6th, which is Friday. The Eid Ul Adha, traditionally referred to as Tobaski in The Gambia, is a very significant occasion for the Muslim Ummah more so that it requires a divine sacrifice of a ram to the Almighty Allah, especially for those who could afford it. Hence its affordability is essential to please our Maker. However for some reason the ever-increasing cost of ram or livestock has made it impossible for many to sacrifice a ram to the Almighty Allah. Furthermore, in town, rams are not many this year compared to the previous years.
Mr President, your government must intervene in this situation, for the prices of livestock are very expensive that majority of Gambians cannot afford it to be able to make their sacrifice to the Almighty Allah. Dealers in livestock give excuses, especially as regards the increasing exchange rate of the CFA, which is currently 5000CFA to D630.
Mr President, something must be done to remedy the situation – it is very important.
Good day!