High Commissioner Faal vows to bring Banjul, Dakar closer Africa » Gambia Friday, August 30, 2013 The Gambia high commissioner to Senegal has assured of his commitment to prioritise activities that will strengthen the historical, cultural and political ties between Banjul and Dakar, saying the two countries have one people who were divided by colonial hegemony. Samba Faal was speaking Thursday during an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer at the new ultra-modern Gambia High Commission in Dakar, Senegal. Faal told this reporter, who is currently covering the ongoing international Youth Summer Camp, that his priority is to pursue the agenda of President Jammeh in ensuring that the two countries continue to co-exist as brothers and sisters. "We are all one people divided by colonialism, but my priority here is to further strengthen the bilateral ties between Banjul and Dakar," he vowed, while urging all Gambians residing in Senegal to always wish well for their country and be ready to defend it. "Sometimes it is selfishness as an individual to forsake your country where you have everything and you don’t want to see that to develop," he added. The journalist cum politician pointed out that the Gambian leader has done and continues to do a lot in order to see The Gambian triumph as an “Economic Superpower” of the world, while urging all and sundry to support the development agenda of the APRC government. "President Jammeh is a man with a great sense of responsibility. He loves The Gambia and can sacrifice his live for his people. These are virtues that are exemplary of the Gambian leader," Faal said of the president. Relations with Gambians in Dakar Commenting on his relationship with Gambians residing in Dakar, High Commissioner Faal, who is the immediate-past mayor of Banjul, told this reporter that his office welcomes all patriotic Gambians based in Senegal to see the mission as theirs. "We are just custodians and their representative. They should come forward and tell us what their problems are and if we can solve them we try to solve them," he said, stressing that his office can only solve of problem it is aware of. High Commissioner Faal, who has served in various capacities in the Jammeh administration including as minister of Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs, informed the Daily Observer that since assuming office, he has not seen any Gambian lodging a complaint at the High Commission. "We have only been receiving Gambian students studying here in the University of Dakar to brief us on what they are doing. We have also received Gambian students coming to visit Dakar and also patriotic Gambians who will make a pass-by for us to know that they are here in case of anything,” he further informed. Relationship with staff Faal also asserted that there is cordial relation between him and the entire staff at The Gambia High Commission in Dakar, indicating that he has an open door policy for all the staff. "There is no conflict of interest and we are just working here as brothers and sisters," he further stated. Assuring that he will live up to expectations, Faal used the opportunity to renew his unflinching loyalty and support to President Jammeh and The Gambian people, saying they will serve the country well in Senegal. He described his new responsibility as a “transition” in that he has served before in various capacities of the Jammeh administration, thus commending the leadership for this degree of trust and confidence. "It is just a transition moving from one place to another, moving from one responsibility to another. I have been at the local level and now I am here to represent The Gambia government and the president of the Republic," he added. He said since assuming responsibilities in Dakar things have been quite smooth in the sense that he has been trying to settle down and have been able to consolidate some of the gains made by his predecessor. He reiterated that he is working to further the agenda of President Jammeh by making sure that the cordial relations that exist between The Gambia and Senegal continue to grow from strength to strength. Relocation He informed the Daily Observer that the High Commission moved from its former location to Ngor in Dakar some months back, just a few minutes’ drive from the Leopard Sedar Sengore International Airport. "We will be proud to receive anyone here because it has standard like any other embassy in Senegal,” he added. Summer camp On his take on the international Summer Camp currently taking place in Rufisque, Dakar, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the department of Youth and Sports, the Gambian diplomat said he is very much impressed with the initiative. He said he has seen a high sense of discipline and solidarity among the young campers. He applauded the Ministry of the Youth and Sports for this initiative anchored on youth development, stressing that the progress of any nation cannot be realised without developing the young people. Author: Alieu Ceesay in Rufisque Dakar, Senegal
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:34:31 +0000
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