By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly select committees on foreign affairs in collaboration with the Vice President, Badara A. Joof, together with the Interior Minister are following up on the status of the plight of Gambians under deportation from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Speaking during the engagement with National Assembly Members and the Vice President in Banjul, Vice President Joof told the NAMs that he did not have any clue on this matter because he took over office recently.
According to VP Joof, he appealed to the committee to have ample time to look into the matter as the Minister of Foreign Affairs traveled, but assured that when he arrives back, the three Ministers with their technicians can discuss and present tangible information about the deportation issue.
“Overnight, I read about the sanction they are imposing on us to know the details and see how we strategies as an executive and come to the legislature to have a smooth transition,” he said and appealed for the committee to allow the three ministers to sit and discuss the matter, that if not, it would not be comprehensive or concrete information to avoid the challenges they face in the European countries.
Honourable Madi Ceesay member of the committee also noted that even though they will be given time but should bear in mind that Gambians are suffering and the lives of these young people who embarked on this dangerous route, too.
“Although the ministers are new the offices are not new,” he said and proposed for them to meet next Tuesday, there the Minister said that the time would not be favorable because there are certain issues when discussed the president should be informed to take a position.
Honorable Allagie E Babu Ceesay, a member of the committee also said that everyone has different goals but the soul interest of everyone is to serve the country and that as they stepped into the national assembly all political differences are set aside.
‘’The committee wants to work with you on this issue because it has to be treated with a matter of urgency, some Gambians are suffering from the deportation issue in the border countries of Morocco and Spain which are sensitive issues’’ he said.
However, he said, for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, this is the second time such is happening and he does not see any reason that they have to wait for him to proceed as this matter is serious. “As you mention in your retreat that we should limit traveling to make sure we develop our country,” he directed it to the Vice President.
