The Gambia’s Ambassador To The Kingdom Of Morocco Fighting His Subordinate Is A National Insult And Tragedy!

Protocol Officer, Mr. Jarju

Reference is invited from the article published on the Fatu Network on June 16, 2018, that “Jarju used one of the vehicles to go pay his children’s tuition. This, the source said didn’t go down well with Ambassdor Jammeh who angrily rushed into Jarju’s office upon his return with a stick hitting him. As Jarju was trying to stop him, he bites off his finger”.

An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government.

The question is, is the Ambassador aware of his duties and responsibilities as per the execution of his task as stated on his term of reference. The last time I checked the ambassador shouldn't be involved in administrative and operational matters at the embassy as it is the duty and responsibility of the Deputy Head of Mission to oversee and handled the local Staff and all the embassy assets.

Ambassador Jammeh’s action saw a clear testimony that he is the least diplomatic and professional to represent The Gambia at such a prestigious body. No matter what had happened fighting should not be part of the options to remedy the situation. The nature of 21st century diplomacy is also changing. To be successful, diplomats must simultaneously shape, act upon, and react to global challenges.

What a disgrace, insult and tragedy to The Gambians both those home and abroad? This aforesaid immorality incident is the first record in the Guinness book of records that an Ambassador bites and cut off the finger of his subordinate. Besides do we really need these many embassies all over the world? Has a cost benefit analysis been done over the expenditure to run these offices randomly scattered across and the returns accrued to the nation? Would it not be better off to invest in the education, health, needed infrastructure and inter Africa and intra Africa trade.

The fact of the matter is that's the impact of what happens when you pick people randomly for appointment based on affiliation to political party and not on merits. For The Gambia to develop and achieve the Agenda 2063 we should give the job to the rightful owners with expertise, experience and knowledge. We've got a lot of university graduates sitting at home when they're extremely qualified and capable to do such a job accordingly.

Meanwhile, we need a rethink of moving Gambia forward. It is unacceptable that all that is happening is a recycling of ideas of pensioners. Where is the returns on the investment to educate young and talented Gambians who could contribute to a renewed vision and strategic thinking for change? The Barrow led administration should refrain from recycling old brains and open up to young dynamic and aspiring youth who can lead The Gambia not only with words but with actions.

Furthermore, the Personnel Management Office (PMO) should understand that Job induction should not only be a private sector thing but it should also be introduced and seen done for Government new hires, particularly top Government employees to avoid such a tragic replica in the future.

An induction programme is a vital process for bringing staff into an Institution. It provides an introduction to the working environment and the set-up of the employee within the Institution. Getting the induction process right can help you get new employees up to speed and productive as quickly as possible.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist