President Yahya Jammeh, has relieved Edward Singhateh of his Cabinet portfolio as the Secretary of State for Forestry and Environment, according to a press release signed on behalf of the Secretary-General at the Office of the President.

President Jammeh also relieved Mr Singhateh of his position as the General-Secretary of the APRC party.

In the same vein, the President appointed Momodou Kotu Cham, Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Fisheries and Water Resources, as the new Secretary of State for Forestry and Environment.

Mr Cham had served as the Executive Director of the National Environment Agency and later promoted to the position of Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Forestry and Environment. He was then transferred to Department of State for Fisheries and Water Resources, where he served in a similar capacity, until his new appointment.

Read the full text of the press release below:

His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh in exercise of the powers vested in him under Section 71 (4) b of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia has relieved Mr Edward Singhateh of his Cabinet appointment with effect from the 13th September, 2007. Mr Singhateh is also being relieved of his position as General Secretary of the APRC.

By virtue of the powers vested under Section 71 (1) and 71 (3) of the Constitution, His Excellency the President has appointed Mr Momodou Kotu Cham as Secretary of State for Forestry and the Environment.