Fatou Camara II
Gambian girls in Beirut set to return to the country have claimed the government has taken advantage of their desperation to leave Lebanon by making them sign a misleading declaration.
Tens of Gambian girls that travelled to Lebanon for greener pastures have been scrambling to return home after coronavirus ensured all didn’t go as planned for them in the Middle East nation. A lot of them have lost their jobs and some told The Fatu Network they are struggling to get even food to eat.
A concerned Gambian then rushed to their aid as they called on the government to help them return to the country.
Lovette Jallow and the Gambia government have however struggled to get along as the government has accused the activist of using the plight of the girls for monetary gains. The government also accused Lovette of tarnishing its image. Lovette has pushed back at the claims as false.
Last week, Lovette paid the air ticket of 38 of the girls after the government through its consulate in Beirut finally released their passports.
The girls have now railed that the government has made them sign a misleading repatriation declaration.
One who spoke on behalf of the women told The Fatu Network: “The information on the repatriation letter is not our words. We were asked to signed that misleading letter if we want to come back home, so we had no choice but to sign it. But those are not our words.
“The worst is it was not indicated in the letter that Lovette Jallow paid for our tickets and nothing was included as to why we chose Lovette over the government , this is not fair . We are not happy about the actions of the government.”
The Fatu Network saw a copy of the declaration of one of the girls and in it, the girl is seen admitting she doesn’t want the government to assist her return home and that she lived in Lebanon for two years illegally.
Minstry of foreign affairs spokesperson Saikou Ceesay ignored requests for comment.
