The Royal House Of Maharaja Adinda Aranan Would Like To Greet His Excellency President Datu Yahya Jammeh In conjunctions of His 47th Birthday
reported by :
His Excellency Datu Momodulamin Jabbi
His Excellency Datu Momodulamin Jabbi
(from the Honorary Ambassador Of The Royal House In Republic Of Gambia)
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(The State House Of President Republic Of Gambia)
Scores of people turned out Friday at a dinner hosted in honour of the President, His Excellency Sheikh Prof. Alh. Dr. Yahya Jammeh's 47th birthday.
The First Family cutting the President's 47th Birthday Anniversary cake
In the midst of the ambience, and other spices, the First Lady stepped up to the podium to toast for His Excellency. It would have been an exact replica of her toast last year and the year before except that she chose to sing for the President this time around. People were both astonished and amazed when her voice resonated loud in the hall with the famous and all time best, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY", song. Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh sang the song in English, French and Arabic, after explaining that she felt she has shared every other detail about the President with the Gambian people in the previous birthday anniversaries:
"Just before coming I was asking myself what am I going to say. Because I think I shared everything with you these last two years (applause…..) that he is a wonderful husband, best in the world and I think you know all (applause and laughter)".  Dignitaries with the President and First Lady at the birthday dinner |
She accompanied her husband through to the last bit of this important moment, assuming the role of a mother, wife and a role model. Their daughter Mariam Jammeh was in her usual posture; calm and quiet. Only that this time around she managed to count her steps among many in the dance floor. From Titi, Coumba Gawlo, Adiouza, Jalex, Sambou Suso, to Fafa Di and Jalikebba, the young Mariam had quite a night. But extraordinary was in fact the watch word here; everything else carried that important message and detail meant to make the occasion such a memorable one. 47 candles have been lit right in front of the VIP dais and 47 more around the cake, the First Lady, he (the President) and their daughter Mariam Jammeh cut at that special moment.
Ambassador Pamela White's gesture.
The climax of the programme was the firework display at the July 22nd square. It lasted for more than 15 minutes during which the skyline overlooking the capital city was lit and engulfed in every colour and sound making the entire celebration a moment to remember.
Incorporated in the programme was the decoration of the outgoing US ambassador to the Gambia H.E. Pamela Ann White. She received the insignia of Commander of the National Order of the Republic of The Gambia (CRG), a national honour only awarded to special friends and few deserving ones. It must have come to her as a surprise, and so was the way she received it. From the podium the outgoing diplomat made a gesture towards the crowd signaling the love she has for them and the Gambian populace by extend. She captured these in more fine lines in an interview earlier before her decoration:
"It was a wonderful experience, I enjoyed every single day of it, I will miss the Gambia, I will miss President Jammeh and his wonderful Ministers very much. I have become very fond of the people of the Gambia and how could you not? They're so open and so friendly and so wanting to make their country a better place and they have". |
Guests at the dinner party
That is the sort of corridor her predecessors have failed to create; understanding and respecting the country's history and policies are crucially important in diplomatic relations. And after 2 years ambassador white has attained such popularity for having improved remarkably relations between Banjul and Washington. She confidently spoke of the importance of maintaining the status reached in our relations, telling journalists in an interview shortly after meeting the Gambian leader behind closed doors that her successor would definitely finish her sail smoothly. This is to ensure her years of sacrifice are not wasted:
"it was really to try to improve relationship between the United States and the Gambia and I will really love to see some more aid money come to the Gambia and that means you have to build trust, respect and communication and I think I have managed to do that". |
Ambassador Pamela Ann White further credited government for its development record....
"I am development expert, that is what I have done in my entire career and you can actually see development in this country. If it keeps going on the same route it would be a wonderful thing to see. The President was just saying come back in three years and the country would be unrecognizable so I would come back in three years to check out", |
Ambassador White said, in perhaps her last interview as representative of the United States to The Gambia.
Live musical performance at the dinner
Also at the President's Office on Friday were the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Ivory Coast Guillaume Soro and the eldest son of the late Kuwaiti businessman Al-Kharafi. Both were at State House to explore ways and means of expanding relations with The Gambia,and that to the Kharafi group would translate to greater investment to beef up its entire capital in The Gambia.
They too had witnessed the President's anniversary celebration, joining a host of other dignitaries including the Vice President Her Excellency Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy.
By Alh. Abdou Njie
Press Officer, State House
Press Officer, State House
