Bakary K. Badjie, National Assembly Member for Foni Bintang Karanai Constituency
By Buba Gagigo
Hon. Bakary K. Badjie, National Assembly Member for Foni Bintang Karanai Constituency, has reiterated his dedication to supporting the repeal of the criminalization of FGM/C in The Gambia.
During the SoNA debate on Monday, Hon. Badjie responded to President Adama Barrow’s stance by emphasizing their commitment to preserving Gambian culture:
“The president also made it clear that he stands firm to fight against FGC. More than the commitment of the president is our commitment to preserve our culture, our traditions, our beliefs and our values. And in this National Assembly, we will continue to represent the interests of the Gambian people, not the interests of the West, and that should be known to all. In so doing, we don’t in fact require support from anybody. We want to uphold our beliefs, our values and our traditions. And that FGC, We are committed to practising it today, tomorrow and forever,” he said.
Hon. Badjie further expressed his unwavering support for the repeal, even if it results in sanctions from the West:
“What is wrong with practising what we believe in? We ask you to practice what you want to practice, and we practice what we want to practice, and you say no to that? What kind of democracy is that? We will see it. We will see the end of it. We will stand on our ground without begging for relationship or support. If that will be the reason we will sanction, let us be sanctioned as a nation. We are ready for it. Statistics have shown that when a nation is sanctioned, that is the time that nation progresses. We are ready for that progress. And we are committed to that progress,” he said.
Addressing health issues, he called on the government to address challenges at Ndemban Clinic:
“On the Issue of Health, go to Ndemban Clinic at night. We are not asking you how many health facilities have you constructed? We are asking you in terms of performance, in terms of exercise, in terms of resources, how far have you gone that is what we are asking for you to tell us. Just go to Ndemban around 5 to 7 pm, you will see people lying on the bare floor. Sometimes they will be there without treatment for hours and then this does not require that much evidence, just go there today and you will witness by yourself. And in the health sector, how do we advance? Is that progress? Is that development? Look at Banjul, the renovation has been ongoing for close to two years. Is this the kind of democracy that you have called for and celebrated? Sad, very, very sad,” he said.