Lamin Dibba’s family has apologised to Gambians over their move in rejecting D50,000 given to the family by President Adama Barrow.
Former Lands Minister Dibba died last month and President Barrow asked a delegation sent to his burial to hand over D50,000 to the family.
But the family in a letter to top aide to President Barrow Dembo Bojang on Dec 22 rejected the money asked Bojang to facilitate the money’s return to the president.
In a statement shared with The Fatu Network, the family explained: “After a careful review and consideration of the receipt of the D50,000 charitable donation form the Barrow government representatives during the funeral and burial of the late Hon. Lamin N DIBBA, on behalf of the immediate family, I wish to make it known that we have respectfully declined the D50,000 and returned the money to the Gambia Government authorities on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020.
“The Dibba family would like to humbly reiterate the fact that, their father, grandfather, brother and uncle was a simple and contented man, who evidently devoted his entire life to national development through community development as field officer, parliamentarian and a former member of the Gambia government as a cabinet minister through the ministry of Local Government and Land and subsequently the ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“Below are some of the reasons why the family deemed it prudent to respectfully decline the D50,000 charatable donation: since his death on Sunday, November 14th until his burial day on Sunday, November 22nd, 2020, the office of the president did not send any formal delegation to the immediate family of the late Hon. Lamin N. Dibba to extend His Excellency, President Adama Barrow’s condolence message. Instead, they chose to send an official delegation on the very day of our Father’s burial, to present an envelope containing money at the masjid/mosque. This was very disappointing, disheartening, and disrespectful;
“Earlier this year, 2020, upon his return from Malaysia where he went to seek Medical Treatment, our father requested assistance for clearance from the Gambia Government to go to senegal to begin treatment. This was necessary at the time because the border was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For a few months, the Gambia Government was engaged officially up to the Foreign Ministry level, but unfortunately no timely assistance was given. The Gambia Government simply failed to facilitate a mere clearance to get him to senegal in a timely manner, a situation we found unacceptable considering his deteriorating health condition at the time. How can the MOFA delay an emergency medical clearance for a former cabinet member who had top clearance serving the Government to the neighboring Senegal?
“The family family was promised an ambulance to transport the remains of our father to his home village of Salikenne by Gambia Government officials from the Banjul International Airport. The ambulance never showed at the airport no November 22nd, 2020. Further arrangements were made to have an ambulance at the Banjul ferry terminal,but the family decided to proceed without the ambulance. As such, it was his sons who drove their father’s coffin in his pickup truck from the airport to Salikenne with the support of his UDP family.
“The list of reasons continues and needless to enumerate all. It is our option that the Gambia Government under the leadership of the Excellency, President Adama Barrow acted in bad faith throughout this entire journey for reasons best known to them. We know very well that our late father was a close confidant of President Barrow prior to his dismissal.
“The children and entire family of Hon.Lamin N. Dibba believes that he deserved more in terms of support (excluding financial donation) from the Gambian Government. As aforementioned, he served this nation as a Community Development Officer, a National Assembly Member and held two Ministerial portfolios. He would have preferred the befitting funeral he got, simple and nothing out of the ordinary, knowing the type of person he was.
“We are aware of the saddened by several remarks already made by the Barrow Government with reference to our late father, one as recent as last Tuesday, December 22 during the president’s Meet the People’s Tour at Soma. This confirmed part of our fears and reasons that warranted the return of this money. Although we believe that those comments were inappropriate, insensitive, immature and should not have been uttered at all especially at a constitutionally mandated event, we have chosen not to respond to that as part of this statement. However, we are hereby requesting that the Ferry Services through the Gambia Government provide us with an invoice, for the use of the Ferry services by 47 vehicles so that the Gambian Government can be reimbursed.
“To this effect, we kindly ask all especially the Government of His Excellency Adama Barrow to please let our father, the late Lamin N. Dibba rest in peace.
“If we may, the Gambia Government should consider sending delegations to the immediate families of the deceased to pay respect and condolences in our traditional Gambian way. This will only not be sufficient but would be more rewarding and appreciated by the family than the cash donations. Public statements and pleasantries can subsequently follow afterwards if required by the Government.
“In conclusion, our family deeply regrets and sincerely apologizes in advance if our joint formal response causes any form of discomfort and or in case our position and response on this matter is misunderstood or taken out of context. Quite honestly however, it is our fervent conviction that we as a family cannot simply acknowledge receipt of this gesture owing to the reasons aforementioned/ unmentioned.
“Finally, while we sincerely recognize and appreciate all the condolences and prayers from genuine well-wishers, we also ask all to please respect our family’s privacy during this difficult period and give us time to grieve.”
