By Lamin Njie
The ministry of foreign affairs is yet to supply members of the national assembly with the names and addresses of over 1000 people who have been issued Gambian diplomatic passport, a top lawmaker has told The Fatu Network.
The ministry of foreign affairs is sweating following a demand by Gambian lawmakers that the ministry furnishes them with information regarding individuals who hold Gambian diplomatic passport.
The Barrow administration has come under fire in recent weeks after it emerged officials have been selling the document to individuals who can afford it. At least a dozen officials have either been arrested or question over the scandal.
The minister of foreign affairs Mamadou Tangara was summoned by the lawmakers last week to shed light on the issue.
But at the meeting, the foreign minister only provided statistics and left out vital information regarding the names and addresses of the over 1000 people who hold the document.
One NAM later told him they were not only interested in the statistics but also the names and addresses of the individuals. The minister then promised his ministry would supply them the information.
But two members of the national assembly told The Fatu Network on Wednesday the foreign ministry has still not furnish them the information, more than a week since they met the minister.
“They have still not furnished us with the information but if they do not do so by tomorrow, I will go to the foreign ministry myself to enquire,” one of the NAMs said.
A foreign affairs spokesman told The Fatu Network the ministry ‘could not supply the lawmakers with the information because there is an investigation that it could jeopardise.’
“With regard to the legal applicants, their addresses might be with the Immigration Department,” Saikou Ceesay added.
