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| Barrow in Foni |
Bwiam, Foni Kansala, 24th
July 2018 - President
Adama Barrow has reaffirmed the commitment of his government to the promotion
and advancement of religious tolerance and equality in the country.At a
meeting in Bwiam, Foni Kansala, as part of the ongoing nationwide tour, the
President said, from the onset, the government has always adhered to the
practice of religious freedom and equality for all people of faith, including
non-believers, as guaranteed by the constitution of the Gambia.
''We
have different kinds of faith groups in this country, including atheist and
followers of the African Traditional religion. We do not discriminate against
any one religion because they are all part of my family, the Gambian family.
All religions are equal in this country and I treat everyone equally. Even in
my Cabinet, I have Christians that I have so much respect for''.
While
saying that all religions and faith groups are safe to practice and have been
catered for in the development strides of the government, President Barrow
reemphasized that ''we are one people, and that tribes and ethnicities are not
important''.
He
added that he would remain committed to strengthening the secular republican
status of the country, pointing out that was why within one week of assuming
power, he reversed the declaration of Islamic statehood that was proclaimed
over the republic by the former regime.
President
Adama Barrow made these statements in response to what he called ''detractors and
hate mongers'' that are bent on planting the seeds of religious discord and
conflict in the minds of unsuspecting Gambians by twisting his comments about
the Barrow Youths for National Development.
Clarifying
that funds from the Brussels conference will not be used by any non-government
organization to promoting any one religion, he said the speculators and hate
peddlers deliberately picked on the mosques construction issue to bring
misunderstanding in the public. The President said he was shocked to learn in
the media that he was engaged in promoting one religion against others or
threatening Christian minorities.
Addressing
the issue of the Barrow Youth Movement for National Development, he described
them as a youth group that meaningfully wants to support his government’s
development agenda. He was quite unequivocal in stating that he would embrace
any other organization or individual that is serious about supporting progress
and development of the country.
“I am
open to anyone who wants to join me in national development. It’s in that
spirit that we provided vehicles for all National Assembly Members, including
the opposition, to honor and dignify the national office that they occupy. The
vehicles would facilitate their movement and they don’t have to join passenger
vehicles to get to work’’.
