“We have seen and been through a lot over the past three years. Of course, many challenges remain, but I am optimistic about the future,” Sharon Wardle said to the press corps after her audience with President Barrow this morning.
High Commissioner Wardle arrived in The Gambia in 2017, when the country was beginning the search for new solutions to its past governance, human rights and economic challenges. This week, she is leaving for London after completing her tour of duty in Banjul.
Her departure is happening at a time when the country and the world are facing “unprecedented” challenges of COVID-19. Nonetheless, she described her departure as “a sad moment” for her after feeling home in The Gambia over these years.
“I genuinely feel that the foundations are being laid for a more prosperous, more secure future for The Gambia. The transition journey is not yet done… The next 18 months will continue to be crucial to The Gambia and we will continue to render our unflinching support to the transition journey,” she said.
The UK funded several components of the government’s National Development Plan 2018-2021, including strengthening the National Assembly, the Judiciary; support to the Ministry of Justice on transitional justice programmes, the environment and many other areas of bilateral support.
The two countries shared a long history. The UK had been a strong bilateral friend of The Gambia in the first republic until 1994, when relations weakened due to the infamous military coup. However, President Barrow’s government was readmitted into the Commonwealth, with a visit to London and a meeting with the Queen of England.
Read Other Articles In Headlines
Ambassador-at-large Bootes extends largesse to MoFA
Apr 23, 2020, 11:53 AM
The Gambia’s Ambassador-at-large in Wales, the United Kingdom, His Excellency Vincent Bootes, on Wednesday 22 April 2020 presented essential food items to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad.
Africell donates D12m to fight covid-19
Apr 16, 2020, 2:04 PM
One of the country’s giant GSM operators, Africell has donated D12,000,000 to Gambia’s effort to contain and defeat the covid-19 pandemic.
‘Covid-19 could expose thousands of Gambian families to poverty, hunger’
May 28, 2020, 1:03 PM
Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray, said that with the covid-19 pandemic blowing the ambers of despair, surging unemployment and joblessness, thousands of families in The Gambia could be exposed to threats of poverty and hunger.
Covid-19 causes fear, anxiety among College Agric students
Apr 30, 2020, 1:38 PM
Lamin F. Fatty, the agriculture minister of The Gambia College Students Union has spoken about the devastating impact of the covid-19 pandemic especially on schools and those in food supply chain in the country.
Ambassador Bootes donates sanitary items to Gambia Police Force
Apr 22, 2020, 1:29 PM
The ambassador-at-large, His Excellency Vincent P. Bootes Thursday donated a variety of sanitary items worth over D50,000 to The Gambia Police Force in the fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic spreading across the world.
Senegal Ministry of Health yesterday reported 51 positive cases of covid-19, bringing total to 2,480, 973 recoveries, 25 deaths and 1,481 under treatment.
May 18, 2020, 1:24 PM
In the world 4,733,564 cases have been registered with 313,395 reported dead.
Transforming energy system could boost cumulative global GDP gains
Apr 22, 2020, 1:33 PM
Francesco La Camera, director general, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has said that transforming energy system could boost cumulative global GDP gains above business-as usual by USD 98 trillion between now and 2050.