By Lamin Njie
First Lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow has called on Gambians living in Sierra Leone to continue exhibiting the exemplary behavior that Gambians are known for wherever they are.
“I have no doubt that wherever a Gambian goes to, a Gambian will be embraced because of the way we are back home,” Mrs Bah Barrow told the Gambian community at a meeting in Freetown on Thursday.
First Lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow is currently in Sierra Leone at the invitation of her counterpart Madam Fatima Jabbi-Bio for the launch of the latter’s 2019 – 2022 strategic plan.
The plan themed, ‘Hands Off Our Girls’ is aimed at addressing issues like child marriage, teenage pregnancy, sexual and gender-based violence, child trafficking, cancer, and women empowerment, among others.
And Mrs Bah Barrow taking time to meet with Gambians living in Sierra Leone said “I have always said that Gambians are moderate people.”
“You don’t hear about Gambians creating trouble outside. It shows we are raised well,” she said.
According to the President’s wife, it’s fate that make people migrate from one country to another and “as far as we’re from Africa, we belong everywhere.”
“You people were born in Gambia and came to Sierra Leone. It’s because this is where you luck is and you have come to get it. That same way, we have Sierra Leoneans who have left this country for The Gambia,” she said.
Ealier, the Gambian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Ebraima Manneh said “Gambians are Gambians no matter where they are.”
“Gambians in Angola, Gambians in Nigeria, Gambians in Senegal, Gambians in Gambia, all are Gambians. We have the same right. We have the same privilege,” he said.
Alhaji Abubacarr a representative of the Gambian community in Sierra Leone said Gambians have no problem in Sierra Leone because they have been fully embraced by that country.
“I can assure you Madam First Lady that Gambians have no problem here because we are all one people,” he said.
