By: Sulayman Waan

Alhagie S. Saine alias Kono, managing director of Kono Enterprise has suggested that Gambians who were born before the country gains independence from England should be given British citizenship since they were born under a British rule.

“People who were born before the country gained independent in 1965 cannot be called Gambians; they are British citizens because the country was govern by the British at the time of their birth,” he told The Voice in an exclusive interview recently.

“I see no reason why those who were born before 1965 should be called Gambian. I see no reason why they need to be given a visa to travel to Britain because they British citizens,” he added.

However, he said Gambians who were born before the country gain independent were all given British birth certificate and national identity because the Gambia was not have any state document at the time. “Therefore, these people are all British nationals and qualify to have free visa to England,” he added.

“This is an essential subject that the British High Commission should table before the British government as it’s a concern of every Gambians who was born before 1965.”

We (before 1965 born) are British citizens but not Gambians. Even though the British government cannot give us full citizenship, we wouldn’t mind to be given British second class citizenship, he said.

Mr. Saine who was born before 1965 unveiled that all Gambians who were bore prior 1965 have British logo on their birth certificates but he was quick to add that all his documents burnt in a fire incident.

“This signified that all Gambians who were born during that time are British citizens,” he told this medium.

According to him, if this suggestion is considered it would be beneficial to many Gambians who were born before 1965 as some might like to change environment and in that this would avail them the opportunity to travel to UK.

“Many Gambians who were born prior to 1965 find very difficult to travel to UK because they are always deny British visa,” he noted.

He called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work collectively with British government through its High Commissioner to ensure these people are given British citizenship.