By Momodou Justice Darboe
Following scathing criticisms and widespread condemnations of his alleged underhand deals to obtain diplomatic passports on behalf of his larger family, minister of justice Abubacarr Tambadou has vowed to return the passports to relevant authorities.
He did not however say when.
The minister of justice has come under fire after a leaked document surfaced on the social media about his request for issuance of diplomatic passports to his mother, sisters and other members of his family.
But at a news conference at the ministry of justice on Friday, Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou rendered his official response on the diplomatic passport saga: “I sometimes joke that is only when I travel outside The Gambia that I feel I’m a government minister because of the way other places treat their ministers. It is a different story here in The Gambia. But let me clarify the facts. And this was in June 2019, less than three months ago that I enquired from the ministry of foreign affairs about those who may be entitled to diplomatic passports.
“And I see a lot of misconceptions about that as well. Diplomatic passports are not only meant for diplomats. That is a misconception that is out there. In addition to specific categories of persons, the President has the discretion to give it to any person.
“Clearly, I was given the information that cabinet ministers and their dependents; their wives, kids could be given diplomatic passport in addition to the President’s decision. Based on this advise, I wrote to His Excellency, the President, to grant diplomatic passport to…These are my closest members of my family. I did not ask it for my spouse and children. I asked it for my spouse and my mother. My sisters were just add-ons.
“For my mother; is not for a stranger to me, is not for a friend. Is for my own mother. So, if I can by virtue of my office request for a privilege that is totally lawful and legitimate that I can request from my principal who has the power and the discretion to grant that request; to facilitate my mother. We are not talking about strangers or friends or distant family members. To facilitate the travel of my mother for a specific purpose. I went to lengths in the request to justify why I wanted it for her and also to provide assistance to her.
“What is the point of my mother carrying a diplomatic passport in Saudi when she is moving in a wheelchair and there is no-one to move with her? So because of those reasons, I submitted the requests based on the advice that I received and correct advise as well, the President approved it. I have nothing to hide. I didn’t even label the letter confidential. I wrote it down on a piece of paper.
“And is unfortunate that, in perhaps a desperation to look for something on me, people are using this opportunity to say all sorts of things against and about me. But it’s public office. I know is going to end someday soon. But I’ll tell you this; ever since I assumed office two and a half years ago, I have never being so hurt in my life because we are talking about my mother. And I did nothing wrong, nothing against the law, nothing unethical, nothing immoral and I’m being…It hurts me.’’
