GAMBIANS IN BRAZIL WANT PRESIDENT BARROW TO APPOINT NEW HONORARY CONSUL

By Ousman A. Marong

The executive Members of The Gambian United in Sao Paulo, Brazil have called on President Adama Barrow and his government to intervene in their affairs as they are without a representative or consulate since 2005.

The last consular who was serving as an honorary consular was under the former regime of ex-president Yahya Jammeh.

The former honorary consular, Withelm Agricola, a Brazilian businessman was identified by the former president.

Mr. Agricola passed away in early 2016 and since then The Gambia government did not make any replacement of him in the South American country.

The Gambian community in Sao Paulo want Guilherme Agricola son to the late Withelm Agricola to serve as honorary consulate.

“We want Guilherme Agricola to replace his late father as The Gambia’s honorary consular in Brazil.” Said Ousainou Joof, President of the Gambian Community in Brazil.

Mr. Joof revealed that they prefer Guilherme as a replacement for his late father as The Gambian consular in Brazi.  

He said the late consular was a good representative for them in Sao Paulo, describing him as trustworthy and respectful.

Currently, Brazil maintains 139 embassies abroad as well as 203 consular excluding in The Gambia.

Edrisa Kuyateh, secretary general for The Gambian Community in Brazil disclosed to News-BiteGambia that Brazil’s general election is scheduled to be held in October 2018.

“We are appealing to the government of The Gambia to help us replace the c onsular to ameliorate our predicament,” Said Mr. Kuyated.

Mr. Kuyateh added that the Brazilians will be going to the polls in October 7 and has fears about the future as the outcome is unpredictable.

He disclosed that they are facing troubles in Brazil due to lack of a consulate,  noting that even if they go in search for Brazilian green card, officials always told them that they cannot be issued the document  because they have no consular in Brazil.

He said the Brazilian government always urge them to try engage The Gambia government in order to have a replacement for their consular in the country.

Muhammed Bayo, the PRO of The Gambian community in Brazil said he had spoken to Ousainou Darboe Vice President of the Gambia, then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad

He said they contacted Ousainou when he was serving as the foreign affairs minister, but he gave them his contact, including his email address and advised them to write officially.

“We have written to him as he advised us to do and it’s almost 7 months now without any response.”

In an email correspondence with Mr. Guilheme the son of the late honorary consular he told News Bite Gambia: “Gambians in Brazil are mostly irregular migrants who have entered Brazil without been registered in accordance with the protocol of the county.”

He said they have also contacted The Gambian Embassy in U.S and asked the Gambian officials to help them, but they were asked to pay $52

ousainou Joof President on top, Edrisa Kuyateh on red shirt and Muhammed Bayo on seat. (photo credit whats-app sent)