Late president, Excellency Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara will be buried at the Assembly grounds in the capital, Banjul on Thursday
President Adama Barrow has declared a seven-day national mourning period from Tuesday 27th August to Monday 2nd September 2019, in respect of the passing of former president, His Excellency Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. Similarly, he has also ordered that during this period the national flag of The Gambia at all State Institutions be lowered at half-mast.
A state funeral will be held where the remains of the former president will be laid-in-state at the National Assembly building on Thursday 29th August 2019, at 4:00 PM. A condolence book will be opened at the same place until Monday, 2nd September 2019.
President Barrow calls on all Gambians to use these trying moments to reflect and emulate the virtues Sir Dawda left as his legacy: peace-loving, tolerant, and democratic.
Once again, the president kindly urges all and sundry to pray to God to grant the departed soul eternal peace.
Mohamadou Musa Njie (Papa), Secretary General and Party Leader People’s Progressive Party, the party Jawara founded in 1962, said as the nation grieves and mourns the irretrievable loss of such a visionary leader and accomplished statesman, we should draw inspiration from his enlightened leadership, especially at this time when the county is at a crossroads.
Sir Dawda will be remembered as a champion of human rights not only at home but also abroad. Similarly, he was at the same time a staunch advocate of democracy and the rule of law. His indefatigable advocacy for the respect for human rights earned him the respect and admiration of all people of goodwill across the globe.
“In fact, it was no surprise at all when the then O.A.U. unanimously accepted The Gambia’s offer to host the African commission on human and people’s rights,” he said.
“As the saying goes, the greatness of a country does not depend on its size but on the quality of its leadership and the national character of its people. Today, one of the most important issues on the international agenda is the protection of the environment.
“We all can recall The Banjul declaration made by Sir Dawda way back on the 18th February 1977. At the end on the declaration, Sir Dawda stated as follows:- “Thus I solemnly declare that my government pledges its untiring efforts to conserve for now and prosperity as wide a spectrum as possible as our remaining fauna and flora.”
Njie also recalled that on the occasion of the country’s accession to international sovereignty, Sir Dawda coined the national philosophy of TESITO or self-reliance.
He also said Sir Dawda understood that nation-building is an uphill task, saying “in order to achieve meaningful and sustainable development we must first and foremost count on ourselves.
“Sir Dawda has served his country well. He has also contributed a lot to our sub-regional and regional organization as well as all international organizations to which The Gambia belonged. His skills as a peacemaker were recognized all over the world,” he said.