Mr. Joseph D Stafford, the American Ambassador to The Gambia, last Saturday hosted a reception in honour of the Miss Black USA contestants at his residence in Fajara.

Speaking at the reception, Ambassador Stafford expressed delight and appreciation to the Gambian community for the warm and pleasant welcome accorded to the contestants and delegation upon their arrival at the Banjul International Airport. He stated that the contestants are not only in The Gambia for a pageant show, but they are also in the country as ambassadors of the United State of America.

He further commended the founder of the Miss Black USA pageant, Karin Arrinton, whom he described as a dedicated woman. He said Arrinton and her organisation are doing a great job in building stronger the already existing relationship between The Gambia and the USA. He then used the opportunity to commend President Yahya Jammeh, the Gambian leader, for facilitating the event, and prayed for the success of the event.

For her part, Karin Arrinton, founder of the Miss Black USA beauty pageant, described the event as a vehicle which would be used to build the relations between the two countries. She said that The Gambia has been the jewel of West Africa and has manifested her love and happiness in the hosting of this event in the country. “This event will further build a long term relationship between the host and the contestants for generations to come” she said.

She also thanked President Yahya Jammeh for spearheading the event and assured the host a successful event.