The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief
prosecutor-elect, Fatou Bom Bensouda, has called on the Government of The
Gambia to pay consideration to Gambians abroad in relation to housing schemes
and job opportunities, as well as create space for them to be able to contribute
to the country’s political development, saying “Almost two third of Gambian
graduates now live and study abroad.”
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| Madam Bensouda, ICC Chief Prosecutor |
Mrs Bensouda, who was elected unopposed last month
to head the ICC as chief prosecutor after the
term of the Argentine-born Luis Moreno Ocampo, was speaking on behalf of
Gambians in the Diaspora during a two-day consultative meeting between the
Government of The Gambia and Gambians in the Diaspora, held at the Kairaba
Beach Hotel in Senegambia.
The theme for this first-ever held meeting between
the government and its citizens abroad - “Harnessing Diaspora engagement in
support of enhanced socio-economic development in The Gambia” - sought to
create an environment conducive for meaningful cooperation between them.
Citing a recent World Bank publication, the
Gambian-born ICC icon said The Gambia is “second only to Cape Verde” in the
number of African states’ graduate nationals living abroad, adding that this is
not necessarily an adverse situation; rather “it serves to point out the
considerable potential that is out there which could be brought to bear in favour
of The Gambia’s development agenda.”
