The Gambia Government’s apology to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand over the derogatory comments made by Tourism Minister Hamat Bah is a wonderful initiative.
This is the way meaningful opportunity comes: through ordinary citizens deciding that something must be done whether anyone else, let alone the Govt, does it or not. Proud of the Govt, and the Gambian people.
The Govt, of President Adama Barrow deserves praise. Why? Finally, the Gambia government apologizes to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand over comments made by Tourism and Culture Yetteh Hamat Bah. The government has assessed its diplomatic blunder by Yetteh Bah and apologizes.
The press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad is marvelously stimulating and it reads: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia regrets the unfortunate comments made by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, in which he referred to the Tourism Sector of Thailand in a negative manner during televised TV Program aired on 12 January 2018.”, the release continues, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to express its heartfelt apologies to the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and extends assurances that measures will be put in place to prevent the re-occurrence of such an unfortunate incidence.
The Ministry extends its profound assurances to the Government of Thailand that the remarks of the Minister are not to be construed as a reflection of the Government’s view on the Tourism Sector of Thailand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs values the excellent relations shared with the Kingdom of Thailand and wishes to renew its commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two brother countries”, the statement concludes. This is a significant move. Why? Because the government performance in diplomacy somersaults in, liabilities.
The President ought to invite the Yetteh Hamat Bah to be measured in his media outings – Yetteh Bah is ‘agenda-less plan less, leaderless, rudderless’ fame, to present his views. Why? Because criticism makes us stronger. Why? Because, as Malcolm X avers, “if you have no critics, you’ll likely have no success”.
Question is; is the government willing to tolerate & embrace criticism? Opinion is not a steel rod!!! It rains in Sahara, Kalahari and other deserts once in a blue moon. But it doesn’t disprove forest cover rain and is a must for adequate rains, The Gambia government eventual apology to The Royal Kingdom of Thailand is an exemplary opportunity and smart diplomacy.
Alhaji Yoro, thanks for pointing out Hamat Bah’s deficiencies in kind humor.
The circumstances prompt me to comment on what Hamat Bah, the showboat Minister, needs to do to put The Gambia on the world tourism map.
The mention of Thailand as a popular tourist destination should remind the Gambian Tourism jester that Thailand has largely captured the Scandinavian market that served The Gambia well in the budding stages of the tourism industry.
Thailand as a destination offers decent, well managed and competitive products that draw most tourists back. A visit to Phuket and other locations in Thailand will leave one gasping in amazement. The draw with Phulet is that one doesn’t pay five times the local price for a good steak dinner or soft drink at a tourist hotel. One doesn’t get charged through the nose for a drink at the local night spots either. The customer service element is also second to none in most far eastern destinations.
Conversely in The Gambia, (brace up for this), hotels run by the same the Hamat Bahs, Sherriff Marongs, Ardy Sarges, Laye Mboges and certain “foreign investors” leave a bad eye on Gambian tourism. These folks lack the finesse, knowledge, outlook and integrity to run top notch tourist facilities. The food at Golden Beach Hotel, Badala Park, Mansea Beach, Palm Beach Hotel and Sarge’s Hotel is of poor quality and standards of hygiene are woefully inadequate. I wouldn’t put towels offered at these hotels on my skin!
Thanks and KUDOS to dedicated operators such as Paradise Beach Hotel, Baobab Hotel, Sunset Hotel, Senegambia Beach hotel and Solomon’s Beach, among a host of other facilities, that not only strive to put wholesome food on the menu at affordable prices but also pay great attention to presentation, the upkeep of facilities and customer service.
I must particularly commend Paradise Suites Hotel, Baobab Hotel and their TEAMS for making their mark as Gambian investors in the tourist industry. I can’t say the same for a host of outfits including Hamat Bah’s that are only just and I wouldn’t eat or stay at these hotels. The hotel industry operators in must be called in by the President’s Office for a dressing down and taken to task to prove that they are not, in seeking their own interests, pricing The Gambia out of a highly competitive world tourism market. Gambians must ask themselves why the destination is largely attracting cheap, working class Brits that thrive on Mburu et Sardegn (Sardines) from Mamad Salieu and local Mbahal at the Serekunda Market. They may be edging out our Fana Fana/Saloum Saloum brethren.
Frankly, Hamat Bah has a lot of work to do at cleaning and getting his house in order than point fingers and run his mouth in true fashion to his perennial stomach flu. He needs to hush, do a lot more meditation and thinking if he’s to prove that he’s worth his salt at the helm of the tourism ministry. In fact the business of affording Ministerial positions to folks that tagged along with the coalition as mere appendages is at best worry-some. Look at what we are getting in return.
President Barrow could very well have relied on this ugly incident by way of Hamat Bah to fire this very eccentric embarrassment of a Fulbebeng! This guy makes a good candidate for a Fula Calabash dancer of a tourist attraction seeking donations for his local JOKEREH ENDANG!
YAA A FAA LEH DAKK, Bajaw would add. But that’s who this guy is, a Clown!!
A NYAA BO KO DUURANGO!!
Andrew, E foonyoh tonyeh rowla; (beware the wasps sting; when stirring the hornet nest with one’s bare fingers) like you do….
I think Mr Bah “suffered the magic of the moment” on media (TV); in the “diplomatic gaffe” of a blunder; to mention a specific place by name, (in his case, Thailand, unfortunately), embarrassing (&implicating) the Gambia holistically; repercussions of which are numerous & varies, includes endangering Gambian citizens’ lives abroad, among others…
Minister Bah could’ve done with warning the predatory paedophilia, taking advantage of the tourism industry to prey-wreck havoc upon the innocent children under some guises…
Alagy yorro is right in applause; forward Gambia, our homeland…
And some people want Mr Hamat Bah to be the President of our country!!!! Chei Gambia.. When will we change?
Bajaw, this guy has always been a sore thumb in Gambian politics and it is about time that we call him out for what he really is. A buffoon and an opportunist.
The Kanyeleng lady from Kunjuru would add, A DAA BO KO NYINA JALO!
This guy is prone to putting his foot in his mouth all while singing the praises of President Barrow who doesn’t need his praise singing.
Hamat is short on confidence and appears to constantly lose his thinking cap. He needs to go!!