By Landing Colley
The President of The Gambia has made it clear to those agitating for same-sex marriage that the country partnership is based purely on mutual respect.
President of The Gambia His Excellency Adama Barrow in his words said “I would like to draw the curtain on recent debates about the rights of people with different sexual orientations. Let me emphasise that our partnership with our development partners is based purely on mutual respect for the advancement of our people.”
Delivering his marathon statement at the opening of the State of the Nation 2020 Legislature Year at the National Assembly on Thursday he vowed that the government will not be distracted in spite of the dim current situation. “We will not be distracted, nor shall we relent. The pandemic will neither undermine our vision, nor the resolve to direct our energies and resources for the development and welfare of the Gambian citizens,” he assured.
He added “For us, lives, rights and happiness for every human being matter above any other agenda.”
The President continued that, “we cannot allow our attention and energy to be diverted to issues that have no cultural or religious value, nor any significance to contribute to the advancement of our nation.”
Among other things, he commended the chairperson, commissioners and staff of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) for submitting the draft Constitution within the specified timeframe.
According to him the draft copy has gone through the required processes, and was tabled recently by this August Assembly to allow for the remaining phases of finalising and adopting the new Constitution.
Therefore “I assure all Gambians that my government is determined that the general elections will be conducted in 2021, as scheduled. My conviction is that, whatever our position or belief may be, we should always concede to the national interest, and forego selfishness,” he said.