The Overseer of the Vice President’s office and Minister of Women Affairs, Fatoumatta Tambajang Jallow has said that she cried at the office of the Senegalese High Commission when the UDP Leadership were jailed for a peaceful protest.
Madam Tambajang made these revelations during a meeting with the country’s religious leaders as part of the events marking the Muslim Feast of Eid Al-Fitr ‘Koriteh’ at the Office of the President in Fajara.
“When Ousainou and members of his executive were arrested, I went to the Senegalese High Commissioner and cried in his office. I told him the country was burning in flames,” Fatoumatta Tambajang Jallow said.
Tambajang said she then asked the Senegalese High Commissioner to called President Macky Sall to informed him of what is happening in the Gambia. The High Commissioner, she said communicated to President Sall who called on the ECOWAS Heads of State in the persons of Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Muhammadu Buhari, John Mahama and Ernest Koroma for them to intervene. She said what happened after that is history.
Madam Tambajang expressed confidence in President Barrow and renewed her loyalty to him and to Mr. Dawda Fadera, the Secretary General and Head of The Civil Service, saying they are ready to work behind the Gambian leader.
“President Barrow is a man of action,” she added.
The Minister of Women Affairs told the country’s religious leaders that President Barrow is following the examples of Prophet Muhammad who has great respect for women and recognised their importance in society. She said at a time when the country was faced with many threatening situations the president was willing to lead the people to change the past regime. She asserted that the president has asked cabinet to advice him because he is not perfect.
“If he had said that anyone who advise him will be fired then be rest assured that many of us will not have been here today,” she pointed out.
She added:”Pray for us when we are doing right but advise us when we are doing wrong.”
Madam Tambajang talked about the rape incidents in the country particularly the rapist who was recently arrested for raping small girls and leaving some of his victims dead. She called for the law to punish the culprits. She also called for attitudinal change and advised women to teach their children with good manners.
The Women Affairs Minister reminded the country’s religious leaders that the religion of Islam has advise to respect the rights of women. She spoke about the people remarrying widows without their consent or plundering their inheritance and later abandon them with helpless children. She warned against such practices, saying the people engaged in these bad practices should desist from it. She said they should sympathize with these women and help them in the upbringing of their children.
Meanwhile, the meeting was attended by the Supreme Islamic Council, Banjul Muslim Elders, imams and Cabinet Ministers among others.
