President
Adama Barrow has recognised and applauded the United States's support to the
Gambia. President was speaking in an audience with the U.S. Secretary of State
for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Ms Uzra Zeya, at State House
on Monday, 13th March 2023.Ms
Uzra is the most Senior Biden government official to visit The Gambia. The President
said the U.S. support will help consolidate the gains The Gambia realised in the areas of democracy and good
governance, including the implementation of the recommendations of the TRRC
White Paper 2021. President Barrow said his government wants to adequately
compensate the victims of injustices of the past regime. He also told the US
envoy that his government is working on establishing a hybrid court to
prosecute perpetrators of heinous crimes, as indicated in the White Paper on
the TRRC Report.President
Barrow noted that while his government is limited with resources, they manage
the citizens' expectations by investing in social projects that meet the
people's demands, create job opportunities for the youth and generally improve
the welfare of Gambians. The President promised re-introduce a new futuristic
Constitution for all citizens. While expressing his support for a term limit,
he added that the lack of it is one of the problems in Africa's governance and
security environment. He also expressed a strong political will to fight
corruption and the challenging forces against it, and said he was happy with
the progress in that direction.On
regional and multilateral issues, President Barrow took pride in The Gambia's
leadership at the ECOWAS Commission and the Authority’s peace efforts in the
sub-region. He assured Under Secretary Zeya of The Gambia's friendship and
support at all levels for the mutual benefit of both countries and their
people. He expressed delight in President Biden's pledge at the US-Africa
Summit to support The Gambia amongst other African countries for their
development and prosperity. Ms
Uzra Zeya, said that The Gambia’s TRRC is a model worth saluting, as it
incorporates reparation and Prosecution. She disclosed that America's
development agency, USAID, will re-establish itself in The Gambia and support
the access to justice programme of the government in partnership with CSO
stakeholders.H.E
Excellency Ambassador Sharon Cromer informed the President that the USAID support
would include support to the office of the Special Prosecution in drafting
legislation and a joint commission in establishing a hybrid court, working with
CSOs.Ambassador
Cromer also disclosed that the United States would support agriculture in
ensuring food security by providing food aid which would be monetised to
support the Agriculture programme. The support also include assisting the
Gambia to transit from Malaria control to malaria elimination.The
support will also extend to the security sector on humanitarian and disaster
management, as in sixteen other countries. She referenced the outcome of a
recent visit by a U.S. technical team with delight for The Gambia's progress.
Thus, the U.S. will support the Ministry of Finance with technical assistant
support with a Budget Adviser embedded in Ministry’s team.The
U.S. support for the country is noticeable as the U.S. Under Secretary
described it as "The Gambia's dramatic progress" that led to the
MCC's recognition, the U.S. upgrading the country to Tier 2 on Trafficking in
Person status and investing in host communities to support migration challenges
and partnering in other shared concerns in diplomacy.
Continue Reading >>
