Welcome to Freedom Newspaper Online

Gambian Ambassador To The UN Fired, Rehired As Minister-Lobbyist Aycoth Calls For Visa sanctions Against Gambia Gov't!

By A Senior Staff Writer

A former lobbyist to the Gambian Government John Aycoth, is reacting to the firing of the Gambian Ambassador to the United Nations Chrispin Grey-Johnson who had his services terminated by the Jammeh administration. "I'm happy that Johnson is fired. The UN will be a far better organization without the likes of Chrispin Grey-Johnson, who have proven to be a liar in a US Federal court. He is not qualified to represent any country at the UN. He lied in his deposition and my lawyer had effectively proven this."said Mr.Aycoth who dragged the Gambian government to court for breach of contract and loss of earnings. Aycoth who is the President of the Washington based lobby firm called the EAW Group also wants the US government to deny visas to what he calls corrupt Gambian officials like Johson who he accused of committing perjury at a Federal court."I don't think that the US government will ever allow him back to the US after we proved that he committed perjury before a US Federal Court. I will make sure that he will never receive a visa in the future to the US based on the White House protocol on denying visas to corrupt regimes." Said the American Aycoth.

The Freedom Newspaper gathered that Ambassador Johnson was fired from his position by the government only to be offered with a Ministerial position days after his removal. It's not yet clear what triggered his immediate removal, but leaks have it that Johnson was among the list of government officials lined up to be fired by the President. The former diplomat was used as a star witness in the EAW Grop half a million law suit against the Gambian Government. The government is in the meantime trying to scout for his replacement.

The government has also created a new Ministerial portfolio to accommodate the disgraced Ambassador.In a press release, the office of the President announces the appointment of Johnson as the new Minister for Higher Education. Johnson whose fate is not clear at this hour is heading a new Ministry without staff. Parliament is yet to pass a budget to run the affairs of the said Ministry. To many here, his appointment was intended to end public speculations regarding Johnson's " sudden Diplomatic down fall" after having served the Diplomatic field for numerous years.

But for Washington lobbyist John Aycoth, Johson's removal never came as a surprise to him. John believes that Johnson was on his way out of the UN knowing Jammeh's track record on hiring and firing public officials. "To me, it was just a matter of time before he would be removed, like other dozens of Ministers fired by Jammeh." Aycoth told the Freedom Newspaper.

Mr.Aycoth also called on the US government to slam visa issuance against corrupt Gambian officials. He said the recent move taken by President Jammeh to establish ties "with Iran and Venezuela, the world's enemies was enough ground for a visa restriction against Jammeh's government. Jammeh, Aycoth went on is only interested in lining up his own pocket and bank accounts and not the general interest of Gambians. He says Gambia's relationship with Iran and Venezuela was not in the interest of Gambians and the world at large.

"It's a corrupt government that's dragging the helpless Gambian people to the dark side of the world, as Jammeh wraps himself to the world's worse enemies Iran and Venezuela. My heart bleeds for Gambians." said Mr.Aycoth.

The EAW President also commented on Jammeh's new cure for aids describing it as a "joke and a fat lie." Aycoth says the Gambian leader has reduced the Gambia as a laughing stock of the world following his false claim for aids cure. "He is lying. He cannot cure aids.This aids stuff made the Gambia a laughing stock of the world. It's a joke." Aycoth told the Freedom Newspaper.

While looking forward to the Washington court verdict, Aycoth reaffirmed his call on the Bush administration to consider tightening visas for corrupt Gambian officials. He says the Jammeh government "consists of bunch of liars and corrupt officials, who are not serving the general interest of the average Gambian."

Aycoth who had a bitter argument in court with removed Gambian Ambassador to the UN Chrispin Grey-Johnson believes that Taiwan have good reasons to be worried in view of Jammeh's latest diplomatic prostitution. Taiwan he warns was bound to suffer isolation, in view of Jammeh's recent ties with Iran and Venezuela. Aycoth who branded the Gambian leader as a self centered leader argues that Jammeh was being fed by Iran and Venezuela these days.

John Aycoth vows to embark on a vigorous campaign to ensure that corrupt Gambian officials like Grey Johnson are denied visa into this country. He says America should refuse visa to officials involved in corruption, which he argues is a major stumbling block to the millennium goal designed to improve the living conditions of impoverished nations.

Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 (Archive on Wednesday, February 28, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI

Return