Fabakary Tombong Jatta, leader of Gambia’s former ruling party, the Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC) has defended President Adama Barrow’s decision to reshuffle his cabinet.
Mr. Jatta said Mr. Barrow is empowered by the country’s constitution to make any changes to his cabinet as he wishes. He added that his party has got no reservations about the changes so long as it is in the interest of the country.
The former House leader and the member for Serrekunda East said if the president decides to reshuffle his cabinet for whatever reason in the best interest of the country; the APRC party has no worries about that.
He added: “It only makes us remember the times when President Jammeh would change his cabinet and people will talk about them. You see what is happening now?”
The country’s presidency last Friday effected a major change to his cabinet and replaced his vice president, Agriculture, Health and Communication ministers.
The president also recalled to the cabinet Dr. Momodou Tangara and Mamburay Njie who previously served as Foreign and Finance ministers under former President Yahya Jammeh.
Mr. Jatta said he believes President Barrow-led coalition government is in trouble, saying since the coming of the new government to date, some of the 7 to 8 party leaders who formed-up the coalition have been left out of the cabinet as per their agreement.
“Mai Ahmed Fatty is out, Omar Amadou Jallow is out, and from vice president to foreign office, to me is a demotion,” he said, also observing that former Information minister Demba Jawo, though was not a political head but is also out of the cabinet.
He said Gambians have to start reading between the lines and learn from the new happenings within the coalition government circle.
“People were saying that the coalition leaders came together for a three-year term because they want to remove the APRC government from power but Allah willing, whether right or wrong, they are in power now,” he said.
