Gambian President Adama Barrow presided over the swearing in ceremony of the Executive Secretary of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission, Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow, at State House today. President Barrow said Dr. Jallow’s appointment was effected after careful vetting guided by competence, integrity and qualification.
Read below President Barrow’s statement provided courtesy of Press and Public Relations Director Amie Bojang-Sissoho.
Honourable Cabinet members
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Members of the Press
In our journey towards the consolidation of democracy, good governance, human rights and national development, we have moved yet to another strategic level in our judicial reform programme. The swearing of the Executive Secretary is an important pillar in building a strong institutional foundation in the dispensation of justice.
The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission is mandated to look into the human rights abuses committed under the former regime. It is very important to establish the truth for us to take the right and informed decision to compensate the victims of the former regime but also to reconcile as a nation. That does not mean that those who committed human rights abuses will not be brought to justice.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Before going any further, let me avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate the Executive Secretary on your appointment to this important Commission.
I sincerely thank you for accepting to serve your country in this challenging role.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
The appointment of the Executive Secretary is not based on partisan consideration but it has rather been carefully vetted and guided by competence, integrity and qualification.
The task before you is enormous; however, I have full confidence that you will, do your best.
However, given the sensitive nature of the task at hand and the high expectations of the public, I encourage you to deliver efficiently and effectively with a high sense of discipline and honesty.
Essentially, we trust you to bring out the best recommendations in line with your terms of reference without prejudice against anybody.
It is important to note that this TRRC is to investigate numerous allegations of abuse of human rights and willful violations of the Constitution.
My government will stand firm for truth and justice and we are committed to the restoration of human rights, fair play and the pursuit of justice for all.
In this regard, I want to assure you of my government’s maximum support in providing the right environment of transparency and independence for you to effectively perform your assignment without any interference. Clearly, the provision of credible information and pointers by the public is essential for the success of this Commission. I therefore, call upon the public to give this Commission the necessary support and collaboration to enable it to effectively perform this difficult task.
In conclusion, on behalf of the Gambian people and on my own behalf, I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Executive Secretary, Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow for accepting this challenging but worthy assignment, and also wish you well in this important national duty.
I thank you all for your kind attention.
Ends
On Baba Galleh jallow as Executive Secretary of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Council(TRRC)
The “victim” is the judge for the “victims”. What a paradox!
The thief investigates the thieves. What a joke!
The blind man leading another blind man. They all fall into the same ditch!
What a sham! The UNQUALIFIED hand-picked Executive Secretary of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Council(TRRC), Dr Baba Galleh Jallow, who at one time claimed to be a “victim” of the President Jammeh government is presiding over a council that he is expected to man impartially. What an insult on democracy!
In the first place, what is the need for such a council when there is a Commission of Inquiry in place, when many people have already taken their cases to court?
A RECONCILIATION council would suffice, but a TRUTH and REPARATION council is a political tool to smear the excellent work of President Jammeh which we are all enjoying and living with today.
Or perhaps it’s another fountain to collect money from donors, spend it on lucrative offices and equipment, cars, travelling expenditures and per diem emoluments. Just as the USELESS Commission of Inquiries that is dipping into our meagre resources with expenditures on rent, office equipment, personnel, travelling expenditures and per diem emoluments.
While there continues to exist the agonizing energy/water outages and shortages, while prices for basic food commodities continue to rise, while FISH our most essential condiment lacks in the markets, while crime and armed banditry continue to rise at an alarming rate; the taxpayers’ money is deliberately squandered on wasteful activities that have no positive bearing on the livelihood of our people; women, men, young and old.
Babu, to simplistically, who would you suggest is most suitable to be entrusted with such a task? Criticisms are useful but so are suggestions too!
Would you give your “neocolonial” status up and come home to put your “neocolonial” education to good use if you were counted on for the job?
Please don’t go about writing angry unrelated language to my simple questions, just give honest, simple and straightforward answers.
To write; “to put it simplistically, ……..”
Ggapm,
The newly-appointed Bishop of The Gambian. The Kombo Lamin born Bishop. He’s my candidate. Out of all proposions, he’s completely immune to any political or social vicissitudes.
The right man!
“he’s completely immune to any political or social vicissitudes”, without you, giving well founded reasons in my point of view, is quite an intangible assumption to buy from. So can you please give good reasons why you think he is immune to the latter, if you agree to the fact that the clock of the post dictatorship isn’t just ticking by just one man’s points of views and sense of reasonings…
Do you know the bishop personally?
Like you on several occasions have asked others where they were during the Jammeh regime, have you any idea where the bishop too was during that era?
Ggapm
Do you know Baba Galleh Jallow personally? My question answer your question, right?