Re: Disassociation from the article on alleged harassment of Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia

Editor,

On behalf of the executive and the entire membership of the All People’s Congress (APC), The Gambia branch, we wish to dissociate ourselves from the article on harassment of Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia, published in Freetown on 24th November 2008, by Minkailu AM Kamara, former branch chairman.  

The content of the article on the subject was defamatory and woefully failed to reflect the realities concerning Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia.  It is a huge shock and disappointment to the party branch and we view it as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the APC in The Gambia. His action was a complete misrepresentation of the entire membership on the subject.

Kamara arrived in The Gambia in October 2008 from a private visit to Sierra Leone and stepped down as branch chairman.  Elections were held to usher in a new branch executive on 16th November, 2008.  Sorie I  Kanu became chairman of the new executive.  Kamara was, therefore, no longer the chairman of this party branch by the time he was writing the article. He did not consult the branch executive on the matter.

Besides, Kamara spent most of his time in Sierra Leone in 2008 and therefore knows very little about the nature of the relationship between Sierra Leoneans and The Gambia government. His article was a misinterpretation of this relationship. In 2008, the executive of the party branch was given permission to take part in the Gambian independence and July 22nd celebrations.

The branch has also had fruitful discussions at State House, Banjul, with senior government officials. We used the forum to express our profound thanks and appreciation to His Excellency, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh for his kind gesture towards Sierra Leoneans.  In response, they expressed their appreciation for the contribution of Sierra Leoneans to the Gambian economy and their willingness to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two states.  
The party branch was given this privilege and this contributed to the realisation of an improved image for Sierra Leoneans. I am happy to report that The Gambia is a second home for Sierra Leoneans residing here.  Since the APC came to power in Sierra Leone in 2007, Sierra Leoneans experienced remarkable improvement in their relationship with The Gambia government.  We were made much more comfortable when a waiver on the alien tax was announced in Sierra Leone by The Gambian leader.

Presently, Sierra Leoneans enjoy peace and other privileges in the country more than ever before. During the war, The Gambia was the safest place in the sub-region for Sierra Leonean refugees and still continues to be so. This is the truth. So much has been given to Sierra Leoneans and so much is expected. Therefore any attempt to frustrate the efforts of the Gambian leader, his government and ordinary Gambians is not only unacceptable to the executive of this branch but also to Sierra Leonean residents in The Gambia.

We hold the president of The Gambia in high esteem and appreciate all that he does for Sierra Leoneans here.  We are, however, sorry for any inconvenience Kamara’s article might have caused for Gambians in Sierra Leone. I thank you.