Bantaba in Cyberspace
Bantaba in Cyberspace
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ | Invite a friend
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Politics Forum
 Politics: Gambian politics
 Gambia withdraws from the Commonwealth
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
| More
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

kobo



United Kingdom
7765 Posts

Posted - 03 Oct 2013 :  06:32:48  Show Profile Send kobo a Private Message
Gambia to leave the Commonwealth

"Gambia has announced its withdrawal from the Commonwealth, barely six weeks before the Prince of Wales is due to open the club's biennial summit.

President Yahya Jammeh, a despot who seized power in the West African state almost 20 years ago, became the first leader to pull out of the Commonwealth unilaterally since President Robert Mugabe chose to withdraw Zimbabwe in 2003.

Mr Jammeh, who claims to have personally discovered a cure for Aids, has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, notably by ordering a national campaign against "witches".

His government announced last night that Gambia had "withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth and decided that the Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism".

The sudden departure of one of the Commonwealth's African members is an unexpected blow on the eve of a summit due to be held in Sri Lanka on Nov 16. Unusually, the Queen will not attend; instead the gathering will be opened by the Prince of Wales who will be joined by David Cameron and about 50 other heads of government.

On a continent famous for its wayward leaders, Mr Jammeh stands out for his sheer eccentricity."...

SOURCE: UK Daily Telegraph News & Read Full Story

1. JAMMEH IS NOW AFRAID TO TRAVEL FOLLOWING HOSTILE RECEPTION AND PARANOID OF BEING TOPPLED ATTENDING 68TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY BARELY FEWS DAYS AGO; BY SUDDENLY PULLING OUT GAMBIA OUT OF THE COMMONWEALTH AS ANOTHER STUNT ON WORLD STAGE? LOL

2. BIG ISSUES, QUESTIONS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES MAY REVOLVE AROUND THESE
  • Visa implications for Gambians living in UK and loosing franchise (I.E. SAME RIGHT TO VOTE IN UK ELECTIONS GRANTED TO COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS AND UK CITIZENS)?

  • Is it a target for Gambian dissidents in UK to weaken their status and make them desperate in foreign land? Is it a ploy to win his enemies (Gambian dissident in UK) like his (President Jammeh) drastic strategy adopted in Senegal and working there to weed out Gambian dissidents, political asylum seekers and force them back home; sooner than later to punish them?

  • Is it about economic and financial considerations? That the Gambian economy cannot afford to sustain its annual subscriptions/contributions and not getting value for money on contributions to the Commonwealth?

  • Did Jammeh confer with Mugabe at the UN on this decision? Did Mugabe advised him and is it a pact for them to take leadership pride/authority; steer as pan-africans and champion anti-neocolonialism

  • Is it a fight back against Commonwealth Observer team report on last general elections?

  • Does Jammeh want to leave a legacy to be remembered as a proper pan-africanist who taught the former colonialist and/or white man a lesson?

  • Is Jammeh stewardship and/or governance on track or sinking the nation?

LETS PONDER OVER IT

Edited by - kobo on 03 Oct 2013 09:38:58

Aku_pickin



Christmas Island
162 Posts

Posted - 03 Oct 2013 :  16:13:33  Show Profile Send Aku_pickin a Private Message
Jammeh has no right to unilaterally make this decision without first consulting Gambians and the National Assembly.
Majority of Gambians are against this nonsensical decision by this baboon of a president.

Justice must be served as impunity brings more repression and corruption!
Go to Top of Page

Momodou



Denmark
11712 Posts

Posted - 04 Oct 2013 :  11:46:03  Show Profile Send Momodou a Private Message
The Gambia: Commonwealth Spokesperson's statement

The Commonwealth: 3 October 2013
Statement by: Richard Uku, Commonwealth Spokesperson

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has seen with dismay and disappointment, media coverage on the reported announcement by the Government of The Gambia of its withdrawal from the Commonwealth.

We are in touch with the Gambian authorities to follow up on the media reports in order to establish the facts clearly. When clarification is received from the Government of The Gambia, the Commonwealth Secretariat will issue a further statement accordingly.

Source: The Commonwealth

A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone
Go to Top of Page

kobo



United Kingdom
7765 Posts

Posted - 04 Oct 2013 :  21:25:50  Show Profile Send kobo a Private Message
IT SURPRISINGLY CAME FROM THIS

1. GAMBIA WITHDRAWS COMMONWEALTH MEMBERSHIP

"The government of the Republic of The Gambia has announced that it has “left” the British Commonwealth of Nations with immediate effect, a press release from the presidency has announced Wednesday evening.

“The General public is hereby informed that The Government of The Gambia has left the Commonwealth of Nations with immediate effect. Government has withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth and decided that The Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of Colonialism,” it concluded."

SOURCE: Daily Observer News and full report Thursday, October 03, 2013

2. Gambia withdraws from Commonwealth of Nations

"The Government of The Gambia Wednesday evening announced that the country was withdrawing from the Commonwealth of Nations.
‘‘The General Public is hereby informed that the Government of The Gambia has left the Commonwealth of Nations with immediate effect,’’ a government statement said.

‘‘Government has withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth and decided that The Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution, and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of Colonialism,’’ the statement added, without elaborating further."

SOURCE: The Point News and full report Thursday, October 03, 2013

DEVELOPMENTS FOLLOWED BY THESE ONLINE INTERESTING REPORTS (AMONGST OTHERS) AS UPDATES;

3. BREAKING NEWS: Gambia quits the Commonwealth

"Announcement on west African nation's state television channel does not explain reason for decision"


"A British Foreign Office spokesman said: "Decisions on Commonwealth membership are a matter for each member government. We would very much regret the Gambia or any other country, deciding to leave the Commonwealth."..

SOURCE: Freedom News and full report Wednesday, October 02, 2013

MORE INTERESTING REPORTS FROM FREEDOM NEWS;


4. MAAFANTA NEWS;

5. Kibaaro culled from Telegraph News Gambia left alone to face whims of mad President By Con Coughlin

6. ASN ‘Gambians live under a climate of fear’- Amnesty’s Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus

Edited by - kobo on 04 Oct 2013 21:32:00
Go to Top of Page

Momodou



Denmark
11712 Posts

Posted - 07 Oct 2013 :  08:02:10  Show Profile Send Momodou a Private Message
Reaction to Gambia’s Commonwealth withdrawal
By Suwaibou Touray & Sarjo Camara

Published on Sunday, 06 October 2013


The Commonwealth Secretariat has given its initial reaction to the Gambia government’s announcement of the withdrawal of its membership of the Commonwealth.Mr Richard Oku, Commonwealth Spokesperson issued the following statement on behalf of the secretariat on 3 October 2013, a day after the Gambia announced its withdrawal:“COMMONWEALTH Secretary General Kamalesh Shama has seen with dismay and disappointment, media coverage on the reported announcement by the Gambia Government of its withdrawal from the Commonwealth.

We are in touch with the Gambia authorities to follow up on the media reports in order to establish the facts clearly. When clarification is received from the Government of The Gambia, the Commonwealth Secretariat will issue further statement accordingly.
”The statement suggests that the secretariat was not formally informed of Gambia’s intention to withdraw from the Commonwealth which is consistent with news reports. Interestingly, clear explanation has been given for the withdrawal prompting this reporter to find out from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the reason behind the move.However, the reporter was informed at the ministry that the Minister, Mrs Susan Waffa Ogoo, had travelled.
When contacted, the Permanent Secretary Ms. Ndey Yama Njie, at the said ministry, told this reporter to leave her contact numbers and state the reasons why she wanted to have an interview with the Permanent Secretary. She wrote to state that the interview concerned the Gambia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth.

According to the BBC, on Thursday a Foreign Office spokesman in UK said: "Decisions on Commonwealth membership are a matter for each member government, that the UK would very much regret Gambia, or any other country, deciding to leave the Commonwealth."According to the Commonwealth charter, member states should communicate and co-operate "in the common interests of our peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace".

In its statement, The Gambian government said it had "decided that The Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism".The Gambia has been a member of the Commonwealth since its attainment of Independence some 48 years ago. She was suspended briefly in 1995 after the coup d’état that overthrew the elected government of former President Dawda Jawara in 1994.
The withdrawal of The Gambia reduces the membership to 53.The announcement of Gambia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth has been given wide international coverage by the international media.


Source: Foroyaa




Related: PDOIS’ STATEMENT ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE GAMBIA FROM THE COMMOMWEALTH


A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone
Go to Top of Page

kobo



United Kingdom
7765 Posts

Posted - 08 Oct 2013 :  15:52:26  Show Profile Send kobo a Private Message
1. ‘Gambia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth is final’

The Government of The Gambia has revealed that its decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations is final and not subject to negotiation. In a press release issued by the Office of the President Monday, the dispatch added that the Gambia wished to inform allies that there is no point sending special envoys to Banjul to reconsider this decision.

Below is the full text of the release.


The Office of the President hereby informs Gambians and friends of The Gambia that our decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations is final and not subject to negotiation. We wish to inform our allies that there is no point sending special envoys to Banjul for us to reconsider this decision.

The decision to leave the Commonwealth was made based on the principle that we do not want to be part of any colonial or neo-colonial institution. Changing our decision is far-fetched because the Commonwealth remains at best a neo-colonial institution and at worst an animal farm, an idea which The Gambia will never subscribe to.

In this vein we urge all African countries planning to send special envoys on this matter not to waste their tax payers’ money. We further assure our allies that the decision to leave the Commonwealth is not against individual member state and this would not affect our bilateral relations with them. We have reached a point of no return in our decision to leave the Commonwealth and this is non-negotiable.

SOURCE: Daily Observer News

2. Hamat Bah says Commonwealth pull-out not in Gambia’s interest

Gambia’s shock withdrawal from the Commonwealth last week continues to receive reactions from across the nation and the world, with Hamat Bah, leader of the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP) describing the move as not in the best interest of the Gambian people.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday, the Government of the Gambia announced that the country was withdrawing from the Commonwealth of Nations with immediate effect.

‘‘Government has withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth and decided that The Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution, and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of Colonialism,’’ the statement said, without elaborating further.

In an interview with The Point on Monday, Hamat Bah said his NRP party learnt with utter dismay The Gambia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth knowing fully-well that by next month, the next Commonwealth Summit will be taking place in Sri Lanka.

‘‘We must make it categorically clear that we condemn the decision of the Gambia Government to withdraw from the Commonwealth. It is not in the overall interest of the Gambian people, because the Commonwealth has been doing so much good in this country and in all its member states for that matter,’’ he said.

According to him, the decision is also very risky on the side of the Gambia government.

‘‘No matter what happens at the Commonwealth, we believe the Government of the Gambia should go and confront its colleagues, members and others to defend its position.

‘‘We have said it over and over, that the human rights records of the Gambia Government is one of the worst you can find; it is extremely bad, and the government cannot escape from dealing with these issues with the international community,’’ Bah stated.

The NRP leader called on the government to do whatever possible to rejoin the Commonwealth, noting that “the Government of the Gambia cannot run away from the Commonwealth because there are issues they are trying to avoid”.

‘‘Those issues will follow you to other bodies like the UN, EU and any other forum for that matter, with the exception of the AU, which seems like an organization of birds of the same feather flocking together,’’ Bah stated....

SOURCE: The Point News & Read Full Report

3. The Point News PDOIS on Gambia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth

Edited by - kobo on 08 Oct 2013 16:03:16
Go to Top of Page

toubab1020



12309 Posts

Posted - 09 Oct 2013 :  17:55:46  Show Profile Send toubab1020 a Private Message
Just an observation.

Let us not forget that Gambia is a member of the UN !

"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.

Edited by - toubab1020 on 09 Oct 2013 17:57:49
Go to Top of Page

Momodou



Denmark
11712 Posts

Posted - 12 Nov 2013 :  11:05:36  Show Profile Send Momodou a Private Message
‘Where do we stand?’ ask Gambians in UK Army as country quits Commonwealth
By Alhagie Mbye, The Point’s UK Correspondent
The Point: Tuesday, November 12, 2013


During the past few weeks, some Gambians currently serving in the UK armed forces have been asking, ‘where do we stand?’ as their country of origin, The Gambia, suddenly quit the Commonwealth of Nations.
Certain officers who personally contacted this correspondent eagerly making enquiries regarding any information about their situation, said that it is important to be informed as some of them are in ‘an uncertain state’.

Thus an urgent and immediate investigation regarding their situation was conducted on their behalf, until a few hours ago, when the ‘Revised Immigration Rules affecting members of HM Forces and their families was laid in Parliament’.

Therefore, The Point can reliable announce the good news! As far as the latest Immigration rules are concerned, there is no specific change or changes to the current well-being of the Gambian officers, in connection with Gambia’s departure from the Commonwealth and, therefore, there is ‘no cause for any uncertainty’.

Nonetheless, it is important to note that the Immigration had revealed, on Friday 8 November 2013, that ‘revised immigration rules affecting members of HM Forces and their families have been laid in Parliament’, and that the new rules come into ‘effect on 1 December 2013’.

Thus, it is incumbent on all those concerned to be aware of such rules prior to any decision they may wish to take on their behalf or on behalf of their families. Such measures were henceforth announced in a written Ministerial Statement since on 4 July 2013, and will bring the ‘Armed Forces family rules in line with the family Immigration Rules in Appendix FM’.

According to official documents, this will mean that ‘members of HM Forces wishing to sponsor a non-EEA dependant to come to or remain in the UK will have to meet a minimum income threshold’.

In addition, a ‘basic English language requirement at A1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), will apply to all non-EEA partners seeking leave to enter or remain in the UK as a dependant of a member of HM Forces’.

Also in order to qualify for settlement, ‘all non-EEA partners and children between the ages of 18 and 65 will be required to pass the Life in the UK test, and hold an intermediate speaking and listening qualification, at B1 level on the CEFR’.

Furthermore, ‘all non-EEA partners of HM Forces personnel granted leave under the Immigration Rules will serve a 5-year probationary period before being eligible to apply for settlement’.

On 5 July 2013, the Home Office appealed against a High Court judgment in a ‘legal challenge to the minimum income threshold for spouses/partners and children applying under the family route’. Understandably, the Home Office argued that it ‘will continue to put on hold cases which are being refused solely due to not meeting the minimum income threshold until the case is finally determined by the Courts’.

It could be recalled that on October 2008, this correspondent reported that Gambians recruited in the British Army had increased steadily, and now in the list of foreign soldiers forming part of the best and finest military in the world. There is no doubt that our previous numbers have also increased considerably.

Meanwhile, there are thousands of other serving foreign nationals including Ghanaians, Malawians, Zimbabweans, South Africans, Jamaicans, Fijians and Napalese Gurkhas.

However, The Gambian officers are highly respected and described as not only ‘hardworking and professional’, but also ‘pride themselves in having a high standard of discipline’.

They are told to remain calm, and that any change in their circumstances will be relayed directly to them in an ‘efficient and most competent manner’.

The Point will also continue to monitor any further developments and will report the matter accordingly, including full details of the changes reported in the ‘Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 803)’.

Source: The Point

A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone
Go to Top of Page

kobo



United Kingdom
7765 Posts

Posted - 12 Nov 2013 :  12:24:04  Show Profile Send kobo a Private Message
1.Colonialism brought us nothing but poverty -President Jammeh tells New African Magazine

The president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh, has told the Pan-African magazine, New African, that the centuries-long imperialism and colonial hegemony “brought Africa nothing but poverty, backwardness, exploitation and slavery”........

So let us do the mathematics; if one high school was built in 400 years, how many years would it have taken us to add a college or a university? Nearly a billion years?”, added the Gambian leader, whose interview also touched on The Gambia’s bold decision to withdraw its membership from the Commonwealth of nations.

“Therefore, when you listen to the tone of the BBC, saying we didn't tell anybody about our decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth, you wonder. What they are saying is that we should have taken permission from somebody, after informing them ahead of time, and they would have advised us whether or not to withdraw or not to leave the Commonwealth.

And it's not only about The Gambia. They want every African government or leader to do the same. Consult the West before we do anything. Well, that time is long past. We don't want to be anybody’s servant.

Now they are telling everyone how The Gambia was benefitting from the Commonwealth, though they won’t say by how much. But let me tell you the true story about how much The Gambia was putting into the Commonwealth annually, compared to what we got from the Commonwealth. It didn't balance.

If I have to give, say, $8M annually to an institution that belongs to both of us, and I get less than $1M back annually, who is benefitting and who is losing? Let them be.
And from now on we shall do what is right according to our norms, culture and religion. And we shall leave them to practice what is right according to their norms, culture and religion,”
he emphasised."

SOURCE: Daily Observer News and full report Tuesday, November 12, 2013

2.Related Bantaba topic Gambia: Petitioning Commonwealth Secretariat

Edited by - kobo on 12 Nov 2013 15:07:39
Go to Top of Page

kobo



United Kingdom
7765 Posts

Posted - 13 Nov 2013 :  13:58:46  Show Profile Send kobo a Private Message
Jammeh and the Colonial Legacy

Once again Yahya Jammeh has been shown riding his favorite horse, with his favorite whip in hand, whacking angrily away at colonialism and claiming that colonialism did not bring anything to The Gambia. He fumes that Britain did not build more than one school and one hospital in the country over a period of 400 years of colonial rule. It is a known fact that if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes a truth in your own mind. I say this because contrary to Jammeh’s frequent ranting about 400 years of colonialism, British colonial rule in The Gambia lasted a mere 76 years.

While British and other Europeans had traded with Gambian merchants as early as the 1580s, The Gambia became a British crown colony only in 1889, and attained her independence in 1965 - exactly 76 years later. So it is absolutely not true that Gambia was colonized for 400 years as Mr. Jammeh would have us believe..

SOURCE: MORE FROM MAAFANTA.COM WITH BABA GALLEH JALLOW

Edited by - kobo on 13 Nov 2013 14:05:28
Go to Top of Page

kobo



United Kingdom
7765 Posts

Posted - 15 Nov 2013 :  16:06:50  Show Profile Send kobo a Private Message
1.Jammeh’s Sales Pitch Interview With New African
Due to public demand, Kibaaro News is reproducing President Yahya Jammeh’s sales pitch interview with New African Magazine Deputy Editor reGina Jane Jere. The exclusive interview, published on November edition of New African, was also relayed on Gambia national television.

Q | New African: To start with, your decision to withdraw Gambia’s membership of the Commonwealth is the story that everyone is talking about. Could you explain the reason behind the rather surprise decision? And why now, after 48 years of membership?

President Jammeh:
First of all, I want to welcome you to The Gambia and we are very proud when we see international magazines published by Africans, and other media houses owned by Africans. I have known New African magazine for a long time, I have been reading it since I was at school. I used to read Africa Now, West Africa, and New African.

Q | Yes, we’ve been going for 46 years.

You have come a long way. I know the other magazines have since disappeared. Now regarding the so-called breaking news. It’s not supposed to be breaking news. The decision has been made primarily because in The Gambia, we want to be very independent of anything that has a vestige of colonialism, especially where the same old story goes, in which one person decides for all of us and that’s it.

We believe that we are better off being on our own than joining institutions that do not want to listen to us, institutions that tell us what to do and not what we want to do. So after 48 years of independence, we have had enough of colonialism and Britain. They have not taken us anywhere but backwards, and we want to be free to be able to be ourselves.

Our theme for this year’s independence celebration is “Live according to your religion and your culture”, and therefore for us the Commonwealth is not our religion, and it’s not a culture. We want to make sure that we remain true Gambians, independent of all institutions that have anything to do with colonialism......

Source: Kibaaro Online and full report

2.UK Prime Minister Article on the 2013 Commonwealth Summit

The Point: Published on Friday, 15 November 2013


The meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government this week is a unique gathering - representing 53 sovereign countries, a third of the world’s population and 20 per cent of the global economy. It is a purely voluntary club, bound together by shared history, deep and diverse links between our peoples and – at our best – strong common instincts about the importance of open societies and open economies.

But as we meet in Colombo, some are questioning whether we are still prepared to stand up for our values. The location of the summit in Sri Lanka has drawn significant criticism: the human rights record of its government has even caused some leaders to stay away.

So, the stakes for the Commonwealth this week are high. And my argument today is clear – we face a choice. At the summit, we can either bury our head in the sand, ignore the difficult issues and essentially give in to those who think that the Commonwealth is no longer relevant. Or we can use this as an opportunity to come together and restate why our values matter.

It won’t surprise you to know that I will be making the latter argument. I am deeply committed to the Commonwealth and what, at its best, it stands for. Not just out of a sense of tradition and obligation - but of belief. The belief in political freedom which has underpinned this organisation for almost sixty-five years is as relevant now as it was at the time of the London Declaration.....

Source: The Point and full report

Edited by - kobo on 16 Nov 2013 09:19:30
Go to Top of Page

kobo



United Kingdom
7765 Posts

Posted - 17 Nov 2013 :  16:21:10  Show Profile Send kobo a Private Message
1.New African Must Apologize to Gambians!

By Kambi Bolong

The New African interview with President Jammeh (Nov 2013 edition) represents a major disservice to the people of the Gambia and Africa as a whole by a reputable magazine, which claimed to stand for Africa.


Unfortunately, it appears the magazine has either lowered its standards or has none at all in holding African leaders accountable, especially where the issue relates to the West. The interview with Yahya Jammeh lacks such substance that one wonders whether this was a paid propaganda project or just a mere case of bad journalism.

All throughout the interview, journalist ReGina Jane Jere merely allowed Yahya Jammeh to continue to use her to bash the West, while ignoring or refusing to answer fundamental and specific questions that are important for Gambians and the world. For every question, Yahya just focused on colonialism and the British as if beyond the shores of the Gambia a battalion of western forces is stationed and about to launch an invasion against the Gambia. Not just were his answers irrelevant and childish, but also they were virtually untrue. For example, when he mentioned that 75% of rural Gambia is electrified, and that 90% have potable water, certainly Yahya Jammeh is not talking about his country because that is not just the case.....

Source: Kibaaro Online News For Full Report

2. RELATED BANTABA GAMBIAN POLITICS TOPIC President Jammeh harps on his usual anti-colonial

Edited by - kobo on 17 Nov 2013 16:21:45
Go to Top of Page

kobo



United Kingdom
7765 Posts

Posted - 27 Nov 2013 :  14:11:02  Show Profile Send kobo a Private Message
Gambia reiterates Commonwealth pull out As final

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The government of The Gambia has reiterated that its decision to pull out from the 53-member bloc of Commonwealth is “final”, saying the country “has long been a colony directly and indirectly for 440 years and enough is enough.”

The government was reacting to a letter it received from the secretary general of the Commonwealth, Karmalesh Sharma, who confirmed the country’s withdrawal and expressed that they look forward to a time when the country “may reconsider its decision.”

In the said letter, the Commonwealth SG said: “I am saddened by this action taken by the government. As I have stated in my public statement of 3rd October, this separation of the people of The Gambia is also a matter of deep disappointment to the Commonwealth family at large. The Gambia and the Commonwealth have enjoyed a long and multi-faceted relationship for 48 years.

The Commonwealth has been proud and happy to be a partner of The Gambia in its national endeavors. Your country has had a particular position in the work of the Commonwealth in support of small states. It is a regret that this relationship has been brought to an end. We are now required to discontinue all collaboration with The Gambia and will advise government of the details of this disengagement. As I also said in my public statement, we look forward to a time when The Gambia may reconsider its decision.”


Gov’t’s response

Responding to that message, The Gambia government in a release stressed that even with the letter from the Commonwealth secretary general; it reiterates that the decision to opt out of the bloc “is final despite the misguided opinions of those who expect us to change our mind. “The Gambia has long been a colony directly and indirectly for four hundred and forty years and enough is enough,” it concluded.

SOURCE: Daily Observer News

Edited by - kobo on 27 Nov 2013 14:12:05
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
| More
Jump To:
Bantaba in Cyberspace © 2005-2024 Nijii Go To Top Of Page
This page was generated in 0.26 seconds. User Policy, Privacy & Disclaimer | Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06