(JollofNews) – The Gambia has been assured of continued strong support from the European Union during a meeting between President Barrow a delegation from the EU’s Human Rights External Action Service.
The leader of the delegation, EU Special Representative for Human Rights Stavros Lambrinidis, congratulated President Barrow for what he described as the remarkable democratic transition in the country and the bravery of the Gambian people.
He reassured the President that the EU would remain a steadfast partner of the Gambian government and people in the transition.
Discussions with the visiting delegation covered governance issues, including the country’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission, engagement of Gambian youth in politics, both constitutional and security sector reforms, and female genital mutilation among others.
President Barrow acknowledged the confidence and strong support that he received from the European Union during the political impasse in the Gambia early in the year. He told the EU Special Representative that upholding human rights remained one of the big issues for his government, which was optimistic and willing to learn from others’ experiences.
The President spoke about the comprehensive reforms underway in different areas, including the security sector. He told Mr Lambrinidis that his government was working towards a new and all-encompassing constitution for the Third Republic. President Barrow said Coalition members would continue to work together to nurture the change that they all fought for, despite their coming from different ideological leanings.
President Barrow said supporters of the former regime were part of Gambian society and like everyone else, were stakeholders in the reforms taking place. He added that some of the former president’s supporters had embraced the change of regime and were supporting his government.
Mr Barrow said: “In politics there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. One has to be courageous to take criticism.”
Discussing the issue of female genital mutilation or “FGM,” President Barrow said his government would uphold the law banning FGM, and stressed the need to raise more awareness about the practice and the law against it.
Mr Lambrinidis said the EU respected President Barrow’s leadership for the inspiration he had given to many during the impasse. He acknowledged that it was not easy to build institutions, instill a culture of freedom and security, and at the same time secure a presence for one’s country in the international community all at once. He said The Gambia, through its example as a human rights leader, could continue to inspire many countries on the African continent and around the world, and demonstrate that it is possible for human rights, security and development to all work together.
The EU special representative commended the Gambian leader for signing five United Nations treaties at once at the UN General Assembly in September. He commended Mr Barrow for demonstrating leadership, and urged The Gambia to go further, beyond the signing of the treaties.
Mr Lambrinidis said he appreciated the efforts of the government to change policies, hearts and minds, and integrate human rights in its reforms. He added that the Barrow administration had encouraged many with the inclusion of members of civil society in its endeavours. He assured the President of the EU’s commitment to support an exchange of ideas and practices with other countries. “Focus on human rights as your new stamp, and keep in mind that you are an inspiration to many others,” he told President Barrow.
Also discussed during the meeting were plans for an upcoming donor’s conference in February 2018, and an African Union/European Union continental meeting on youth and job creation.
Speaking with the media right after the audience, Mr Lambrinidis told reporters that President Barrow was working on various big challenges, including youth employment, improving prison conditions, rehabilitation, and security reforms, and that the President was determined to achieve this through a human rights inspired policy. He said doing so would ensure that changes take root and stay in place.
He said: “For our part, the EU is standing by the Gambian government in this effort. Our support is both moral, certainly economic, and any other way in which we can stand by The Gambia in this transition. We will continue to do so.”
The EU could cure Gambia’s energy and water shortage if it had a mind to.
But I guess democracy and human rights are reasonable, mutual trumpets to blow.
Sorry to see these european women so inappropriately dressed.
The EU is an important development partner for The Gambia, like most developing countries, and despite having invested immensely in our country, it is still willing to continue doing so, in spite of the precarious nature of our economy, and the real possibility that we may not honour our debt obligations for much longer, unless drastic and painful measures are employed again.
It is good that we have such development partners, but at some point, we have to put the brakes on, ask the obvious questions, examine ourselves very closely and scrutinise our relationship with development partners to map out a new direction, because we need one, after 52 years of loans, grants, aids and debt relief has not really made much difference to the common man/woman.
Like many have said before, taking loans is not the problem, but what one does with the loan is what matters.
How monies are used is not only limited to loans, but to all funds either generated by us or coming from outside, and personally, I do not think that spending a $50M grant from China on a Conference Centre was a prudent use of the funds, if the government have had a free hand to dispose of the grant (because grants do come with conditions).
There is also that $56M grant from the World Bank for budgetary support and this is where the press could have been very significant in informing the nation, but sadly, we are yet to see a press that is living up to the expectations of new Gambia. The National Broadcaster, GRTS, seems to be continuing the same old game of playing the mouthpiece to the government, and has not shown any interest of being the medium through which a national debate can ensue to shape a future Gambia, beyond the transition.
These are some of the things that lead to the legitimate questions about system change, and whilst we should praise the government for the cessation of rampant rights abuses and a freer political environment, we must, nevertheless, continue to seek for changes in how we did things for the past five decades, rather than being just content with expressing ourselves without fear of arrests and detentions.
The media needs to start asking questions about how the $56M budgetary support will be disposed of and what services will be supported, and most importantly, whether there are plans to invest part of that in the productive sectors.
We need to start investing in areas where revenue can be generated to support service provision, rather than depend entirely on outside funding, because that is not only unsustainable, it leaves you vulnerable to so many things.
Bourne; The cost of installing a wind turbine is approx $3000 to $5000 per kilowatt.
Commercial wind turbines can cost between $ 1.2 to $2.2 million dollars. All prices are negotiable and are subject to planning and legal regulations and location.
A large wind turbine can power a small village.
Female Dress code in predominantly Muslim countries should be modest. No cleavage,no bare shoulders, no short mini dresses etc. Sorry boy’s, but these bare chested expired white women on your beaches is a breach of public decency. Transparency, Accountability and Probity are the cornerstones of any democracy. So should we say all this coalition nonsense of it’s democratic ambition is just a
” selling gimmick” to attract more western cash ?????
They do seem to like luxury hotels and travel and perdiems and out of pocket expenses. But lets not moan let’s ask one simple question.
Is this coalition transitional, hocus pocus government worth its cost and expenditure ?
My opinion>>> No way !!! there taking the piss.
Bax; I am reading into your growing disappointment as each nonsensical, transitional intransigent day passes.
But I think Barrow and Darboe wake only from their sleep to utter an opinion only to change it the next siesta. Too much sun makes all desert.
Bourne; thank you for your eastern version of sexual repressive education. I really cannot comment by experience like you can. I see in Saudi Arabia women will now be allowed to drive cars. I agree that wearing a burka to the world swimming championships may leave the eastern ladies at some considerable disadvantage. Here in the heart of western civilisation we do cater for nudity on our beaches. Not public beaches, but nudist colony allocated private beaches. Modesty and to not offend decency is our culture. Nakedness is occasionally shown on TV but only after the watershed of 9pm or 12am. White women do strip bare on foreign beaches, where allowed. But this is a vanity thing so they can show off the original sun tan to friend and neighbours. I always find it somewhat amusing that white women try everything to get darker skins whilst some African women try anything to get a lighter skin. But I guess this is a fashion trend/statement ?
Regarding making millions from energy generation in Gambia, do you think it would be morally acceptable for an englishman to eat into the EU financial assistance to provide western technology.? In any case my friend…I have already said that wind power, wave power, solar power and diesel power are not the solution but a combination of all would provide the surplus energy Gambia needs to attract international industrial investment. Wind Power would require an investment of over 2 billion dalasis to even make a small difference.
As for comparing me with terrorists…I think Maybe the white flowing Kaftans are clouding your vision ? Sleep with the light on my dear.