President Adama Barrow of the Gambia Friday received a team of officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat in London who are on a week-long assessment mission, which could soon lead to the country’s full return to the Commonwealth.
President Barrow expressed his pleasure at receiving the Commonwealth assessment team, and thanked them for their mission. He said it was easy for the Gambia to re-apply for membership of the Commonwealth because of the deep-seated feeling by Gambians that they had never really left the Commonwealth family.
He described the unilateral decision by former President Yahya Jammeh to withdraw the country from the organisation in 2013 as unfortunate and uncalled for, stressing that the Gambia never wanted to leave.
He said: “Nobody wants to be isolated. We want to be part of all international bodies. This was one man’s decision, and not something that was put to all Gambians. If it had been a referendum, the decision would never have been taken.”
The president stressed that the Gambia wished to be fast-tracked to full membership of the Commonwealth once again. He said it was inconceivable for Gambians to remain outside the Commonwealth when other nations wanted to join. The people of the Gambia, he emphasized, had taken a decision in December 2016 about the direction of their future as a new democracy and a new Gambia.
“We are careful and are calculating our steps so that we do not make mistakes,” President Barrow explained.
“We believe in the principle of democracy and are positive about our future. Gambians are looking forward to our return to the Commonwealth. So the message is full membership as soon as possible. We are confident that your fact-finding mission will have provided you with all the information that you need, and we hope that the report will be positive, because The Gambia is back.”
Karen McKenzie, head of Human Rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat, thanked President Barrow for the team’s warm welcome in the Gambia, and for the government’s logistical support for a week of very productive meetings with stakeholders.
Ms McKenzie said the Gambia’s membership in the Commonwealth over the years had been beneficial, and provided technical assistance to the country.
She explained that the Commonwealth Secretariat would now make an assessment of how well the Gambia met membership prerequisites, and this would form part of the Commonwealth secretary general’s consultation with member states.
The formal process, thereafter, will entail the Government of the Gambia being invited to submit a formal request to rejoin the Commonwealth. That formal expression of interest would then be considered by the members.
Why does Mr Barrow always look as though he has acute indigestion?
He might really just be suffering is one answer. Another is some people don’t photograph well. I tend to judge people/politicians on their actions and try not to be offensive/rude about someone I really don’t know personally. No one is inside other people’s heads.
His looks ain’t gonna put food on our plates and i don’t think your hump-back Prime Minister look any better.
loool. Fair comment. I think my back catalogue with Maafanta Freedom Newspaper and Jollof news can stand or fall by opinion. Some like white people with commitment to Freedom and Liberty…others like to scream slavery. When you keep the good company of Journalists and Activists…you can only admire and respect their long standing contribution to the opportunity Gambia has to day. The first words that Pa Mbai said to me in 2007>>” Freedom comes very expensive in Africa” The first words Fatou Jaw Manneh said to me. “We must fight the Dictator, we have no choice” The first words spoken to me by Yusupha Cham. The work we are doing is vital, can you help us ”
This money I have parted with is the only money well spent in a lifetime of earning and spending. Except for my Maserati>>gran Turismo. Another class act.
Ladies and gentlemen; Sticks and stones may break my bones…but Jammeh never broke me. {smile a while }
Nutty Fred…I am not and never will be a Conservative; But in my humble opinion, Mrs May…must be admired for her inner strength and her recoverability. We must look for assets…not short cummings. I speak with British politicians almost every week. The strength in depth that we as a nation benefit from…is most remarkable. As for Europe>>>the brexit negotiations are revealing both internally and externally who are our friends and who are conceited in the speaking from the shadows of time.
Britain benefits from the courage of our people and from those who wish sincerely to become part of our people.I agree with President Trump when he says if you want to be a citizen then you must love our country. I think that is reasonable, wise and just.
A flip flopping idiot who is one day black, one day white and Gambian lover by day and British object by night. Natty Dread or call me what you want have no interest in becoming part of your people and never will. An Englishman agreeing with Trump on who should be a citizen speaks volume of how ignorant you are of your own bloody history. Britain benefited nothing from the cowardice of your people that is why you are now a colony of the United States. Your various Prime Ministers dance to any tunes played at the White House and asked how far they can jumped even if they are not asked to jump.
Watch out flip flopper because the next to colony you will be the Africans followed by the Indians and the Pakis.
Meant to say the next to colonize you will us Africans.
Interesting observations my friends. But you paint your brush to thick; By the ingenuity of the British and American collaboration on the raising of the internet, we can talk to real people across the world. I have a friend in Houston, Texas. We speak about conditions in her community often. Her boyfriend and her were getting out of a taxi…downtown and were caught in the crossfire of a drug turf war. Her boyfriend was shot and left paralyzed. She took a hit but the bullet was deflected by her Michael Kors hand bag. The bullet deflected to her wrist. The end result was 12 black people left dead shot by other black people. A regular occurrence not at all rare. Under such prolific circumstances, and for the degradation and social consequences caused, I think Donald Trump has every right to do all he can to limit this dangerous trade. I think the wall thing, is a statement of intent for government to address this situation which has been a growing issue for over 40 years. The white supremacists have always been around. Every western country have them. It depends on what kind of democracy we want. Everybody has the right to protest. But is this kind of behaviour anything like the beginnings of a Nazi style revolution .
No way. Counter demonstrations by the overwhelming majority, speaks volumes for the real people’s verdict on such behaviour.I think the influx of Asians for the last two hundred years into Britain has seen an industrious and capable people giving added value to Britain’s economic strength. The overwhelming majority have assimilated and adapted to British culture, whilst retaining and practising there own culture. I think most African’s { and I speak to many every day} struggle to gain papers of indefinite right to remain. For illegals the road is very hard and expensive.
I think it is entirely necessary to know who is in our communities and who they are and what are their intentions.However, the most frequent question I ask a Cabinet Minister is how do the government expect an illegal to live ? For sure an asylum seeker has benefit and housing rights and a limited entitlement to work. The illegal immigrant has none. I regret no Minister has ever been prepared to answer that question, but they are happy to send me 3 pages on asylum seekers rights and entitlements.Terrorism and Brexit has not made the illegal immigrants plight any easier.So I think any suggestion that we as a country fear a contra colonisation is a bit far fetched an opinion. The rate of deportations has risen alarmingly and I fear will only get worse once we again control our borders. But I respect all opinions, despite the use of ungentlemanly anti white and racially intended profanities. I reject all racially intended submissions. The problems highlighted are worthy of inspection. However the presentation leaves much to be desired.
Next insult please. ducks back in tact.
My sympathies go out to all American’s affected and suffering from seasonal flooding and its dangers. Truly devastating.
I regret my reply to Jack has been deleted. Sorry Jack. I thought your reply was very intelligent and up to your usually high standard. Maybe another day eh ?
Yes Jack agreed.