Press release
On September 2nd, 2019, the Secretary General and leader of the United Democratic Party, H.E. A.N.M Ousainou Darboe embarked on a tour of the Gambian diaspora to meet and engage the citizens, most importantly the UDP diaspora supporters. The six week tour started in Germany, covered six countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland, United Kingdom and France). The United Democratic Party strongly believes that all Gambians irrespective of where they are, should have the rights and be involved in the political affairs of their country.
The leadership of the party had from the start put great importance on the inclusion of Gambians living outside the borders of our country, and it was on that basis that the first UDP chapter was established in France 1997 followed by the United Kingdom and Germany. I can proudly report today that the United Democratic Party has chapters in almost every corner of the globe.
Over the years the diaspora arm of the United Democratic Party has tasked itself with robust citizen engagement within and outside The Gambia, resource mobilization, idea generation, etc., to complement the efforts of the party back home. The United Democratic Party diaspora wing has never been found wanting in their responsibilities and commitments to the party and Gambia as a whole. The UDP diaspora was in the forefront in efforts to end the tyranny against our people and mobilizing resources and efforts to establish the current government.
On this background the various chapters in Europe organized congresses and fundraisers, and invited the party leader along with some reputable members of the party in the likes of Ebrima Dibba, Honorable Yakumba Jaiteh and Dr. Amadou Scattered Janneh. There were both public and private engagements and consultations with Gambians and non Gambians alike on matters of importance for the party and country.
The tour witnessed maiden congresses of newer but formidable chapters in Italy and Finland. Like in Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and France, the party leader maximized the opportunity to articulate the United Democratic Party’s long standing position for a better progressive Gambia where justice, equality, fairness, and the rule of law are not only central, but supreme. He decried the state of the economy, agriculture, health care system, education, diaspora enfranchisement and infrastructure, with promise and commitment to shift the focus and development paradigm when the UDP come into government. Overall, the tour was a resounding success, with a lot of packed halls and airports.
Comrades in the United Democratic Party both in the diaspora and The Gambia, we have come a long way in ending dictatorship and establishing a democratic government, but we still have a long way to go. Until we bring about a UDP government in 2021, until every child in The Gambia goes to bed with a full stomach, until every student gets a proper education, until our pregnant women can have access to decent prenatal care in our hospitals and Health Centres, until our farmers are able to earn decent income from their produce, and until we are able to excoriate every scintilla of injustice, nepotism and corruption in our public service and institutions, our struggle for a better Gambia shall continue. To achieve these I ask for your commitment and steadfastness to the ideals of the founders of our great party. The unity of purpose and the abiding principles that bring us together are far greater and more important than what divide us. Let us renew our commitment to our party; the party of Solo Sandeng, Single Nyassi, Lang Marong, Femi Peters, Sarjo-Kunjang Sanneh, etc.
As a significant constituency, the UDP diaspora are pleased and grateful to the party leader for honoring our invitation. On behalf of the UDP Diaspora , I would like to express a sincere gratitude to the UDP diaspora chapters in Europe, their Executive Committees, party members and supporters, and Gambians at large across Europe who, in one way or the other, have contributed to the success of the recently concluded European tour of our Secretary General and Party Leader, His Excellency, A.N.M Ousainou Darboe. The tour was a significant milestone in the history of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and for which we are grateful to you all.
I also would like to thank you for the great hospitality extended to the Party leader and his entourage during the course of the tour. In particular, I would like to thank Mr. Mafoday Cham, Chairman of the GASH Chapter, Mr. Mbemba Jagne, Chairman of the Spain Chapter, Mr. Buba Touray, Chairman of the Finland Chapter, Mr. Ebrima Drammeh, Chairman of the Italy Chapter, Mr. Ibrahim Sanneh of the France Chapter and Mr. Suntu S. Daffeh, Outgoing Interim Vice Chairman of the UK Chapter for a job well done. Our profound gratitude and appreciation to the two UDP media platforms, the UDP Tv and Media, and the UDP online Bantaba for the coverage.
I want to take this opportunity to welcome those newcomers who filled our ranks recently and assure them that the UDP is their home as well, and in us they will find a willing partner to propagate the programs and agendas of the United Democratic Party to the wider audience. On the same token I want to extend invitation to every citizens to come and join us in our efforts to instill a government that can deliver for our people.
Thank you.
Pata Saidykhan
For the Chairman,
UDP Diaspora
October 27, 2019
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