Honourable Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, Speaker of the National Assembly, yesterday, received at her office, the new Guinea Bissau ambassador to The Gambia, Her Excellency Maria Munira Jauad Ribeiro.

Speaking at the ceremony, Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay welcome the new Guinea Bissau diplomat to The Gambia. She told her that they, at the National Assembly are working relentlessly to ensure that they establish parliamentary friendship with the Bissau parliament as according to her, friendship between the two legislative bodies means uniting the two people. She added that this will also help the two Heads of State to work closely together.

Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay then elaborated on the incredible leadership qualities of President Yahya Jammeh and his immense contribution in bringing peace and stability to the sub-region, particularly to Guinea Bissau, as well as contributions to socio-economic development.

“Because of President Jammeh’s love for peace, we in the Gambian parliament are working together to ensure that we establish parliamentary friendship within the sub-region,” she said.

She then assured the Guinea Bissau diplomat of the National Assembly’s willingness to work closely together with their counterparts.

“We should establish the friendship, interact and visit each other. We are also happy that you recognised the importance of the legislature in any country, more particularly, The Gambia,” Speaker FJC told the Guinea Bissau diplomat.

Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay then assured Ambassador Jauad Ribeiro of her office’s support and expressed hope that the relationship between the two nations will be further strengthened during her tenure in office.

Hon. Momodou LK Sanneh, minority leader and member for Kiang West described the Gambia-Guinea Bissau relationship as a longstanding one. He commented on the essence of bringing the two parliaments together saying, “the two countries are bilaterally and culturally the same”.

The Minority leader then extolled the unquestionable leadership qualities of Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay in bringing both the opposition and ruling NAMs together. He further assured the Guinea Bissau diplomat of their readiness to work closely together.

Hon. Sellu Bah, National Assembly member for Basse, said the Banjul-Bissau relationship is a long outstanding one and expressed hope that the new ambassador will further cement the ties. He emphasised the cordial relationship between President Jammeh and President Nino Vierra.

Honourable Bah also highlighted the outstanding contributions of the Guinea Bissau parliamentary representatives to the Ecowas parliament in advocating for  sub-regional ties more particularly establishing The Gambia-Guinea Bissau parliamentary ties. He also assured the Bissau diplomat of their support.

Honourable Mama Kandeh, NAM for Jimara said The Gambia and Guinea Bissau have a lot share due to the fact that we are the same. He lauded the decision of the Bissau government to send a female diplomat to The Gambia saying, “women play a crucial role in Africa today”.

For her part, Maria Munira Jauad Ribeiro, commended the Office of the Speaker for the warm welcome accorded to her. She described the National Assembly as the second most important institution in any country and promised to work closely with them.

The Guinea Bissau diplomat who once served as State Secretary of International Relations in Guinea Bissau further stated that through that portfolio, she had worked closely with several parliaments in the sub-region and will continue that good work.

She saluted President Jammeh for his efforts in bringing peace back to Guinea Bissau.

She assured the NAMs of her readiness to further cement the Banjul-Bissau ties during her stay in the country. She also applauded the freedom that her people enjoy in The Gambia.

The Guinea Bissau diplomat then called on the National Assembly to support her office.