The three newest members of the Cabinet were sworn in last Tuesdays
during a ceremony held at State House presided over by President
Yahya Jammeh.
The Secretary of State for Education, Mrs Fatou Faye, the Secretary
of State for Natural Resources, Fisheries and the Environment,
Bai Mass Taal, both appointed September 15, and the new Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, Sidi Moro Sanneh, appointed on October
14, all took the oaths of office, allegiance and secrecy.
President Jammeh thanked the new secretaries of state for accepting
to serve in his Cabinet.
High 'turn-over'
"It is a very challenging, and a very difficult job, especially
when you know that the turn-over is very high", the President
told the new members of the government.
President Jammeh called on them to work as a team, for the benefit
of all Gambians, and to consult on matters concerning the country.
"You may be running your own department of state, but anything
that goes wrong there will be the responsibility of the whole
Cabinet", he reminded them.
He further advised them to be committed to service, and warned
that a minister, who fails to deliver, as expected, should not
expect to stay long in his Cabinet. The person will go - there
is no compromise on that issue, he declared, and urged the new
ministers to let him know if, at any time, for one reason or the
other they are not ready to serve in his government.
Nobody's fool
"You cannot be given a Cabinet position, and you do not want
to serve or deliver, yet you do not want to leave, thinking that
the President is a fool".
The Gambian leader said one thing he cannot forgive is taking
him for a fool because, pointing out if he is not aware of things
happening in his government, then he is not fit to be president
of this country.
The President said, in the past, he gave reasons for firing Cabinet
colleagues, but now out of consideration and respect for their
families, Gambians are not told why people are being fired.
Collective responsibility
The President also emphasised that as a government, they should
be speaking with one voice, pointing out that it does not give
a good image of the government when secretaries of state give
different opinions on a single issue.
He said there have been instances in the past where somebody would
say something on matters of paramount importance to the well-being
of Gambains, whilst others will say unnecessary things because
they are under pressure from people outside of this continent
who have no interest to see a black man move forward.
He called on all Cabinet members to work as a team in order to
achieve their desired goals.
Both the secretaries of state for Finance Musa Bala-Gaye and of
Trade, Edward Singhatey, also spoke, and advised their new colleagues
to be always consulting in the interest of the nation.
Singhatey said they should all execute their duties with sincerity
and honesty, and seek advice from colleagues whenever necessary.
Rule of law
All three new secretaries of state then spoke, and each vowed
to execute their duties according to the laws and constitution
of the country.
The Education Secretary thanked President Jammeh for the trust
reposed in them, and assured him that they will all endeavour
to meet his expectations.
The Fisheries Secretary said he felt proud when called upon to
serve his country at this high level, and promised the President
that he will deliver as expected, and to the best of his ability.
The new Foreign Secretary said he has been working with the government
since 1994, when he was an official at the African Development
Bank in Abidjan. He also enjoined his colleagues to work together
collectively, in the interest of the country.
By Momodou Trawally
SOS
for Education Mrs. Fatou Faye taking oath.
SOS for Foreign Affairs Sidi Moro Sanneh
taking oath.
