Barrow lambasts Darboe and others as he decries ‘betrayal’

By Sainey Darboe

President Barrow has issued a chilling warning to newly inducted ministers and permanent secretaries to eschew acts of betrayal and jockeying for leadership as he takes a not-so-subtle swipe at former Vice President Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, as well as two other cabinet members who were recently fired.

H.E President Barrow pictured with new members of his cabinet

Speaking during the induction into cabinet of Lamin Jobe, Minister of Trade, Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh Minister of Health, Dr Isatou Touray, Vice President, Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Women, Children & Social Welfare, and Amie Fabureh, Minister of Agriculture, President Barrow summed up the significance of the occasion:

“This means that the greater good has to prevail over our personal, ethnic, religious, political or sectional interests. It goes without doubt that at the core of government leadership is Cabinet. Cabinet represents and portrays the nation as a family. As a result, political differences must not corrupt, undermine or divide those of us privileged with Cabinet assignments.

Collectively, we should symbolise unity, and must not instigate division. Instead, we should be a source of inspiration to unite the citizens, and work together as one nation. To achieve this, what we say and do should be consistent in both our public and private lives”.

While allowing that the pursuit of political ambitions is a constitutional right imbued on citizens, Barrow indicated there is more to good citizenship than being a leader.

His words:

“It is obvious that all citizens are entitled to their views and ambitions, including the desire to lead. However, good citizenship is not all about leadership, nor is it about having one’s way all the time.Good citizenship embodies uniting and working collectively towards a common destiny; a destiny marked by success, development, peace, stability and happiness for all.

It is a betrayal of trust to belong to a group, yet openly or secretly oppose its ideals, objectives, values, agenda and what it stands for. In other words, one cannot operate in Cabinet, or within a government system, and seek to undermine it in order to pursue any other interest”.