By Mna Fwawi
Dear Editor,
I debunk the letter written by an anonymous source, claiming to be from State House. The writer accused Mrs. Cheryl Gregory-Faye of sycophancy. This is untrue and irresponsible. I would like to be clear: I am not defending Mrs. Gregory-Faye, because she has done nothing wrong to warrant a defense. However, it is imperative that I set the record straight. I know Mrs. Faye, personally and professionally. I have worked with her for some years, and she is the most able, professional international civil servant I have encountered.
For the record: Mrs. Faye has played a pivotal role in UNICEF's country programme of cooperation since she assumed that post almost four years ago. Her leadership has registered an increase in the number of children immunized against polio, and other preventable diseases. A drop in childhood illnesses has resulted to healthier children, who are going to school, instead of staying at home. The achievement of the gender parity goals, which she championed has not only placed Gambia on the map, but has also earned her the respect of the global community, hence her appointment as the Chief of the UN Girls' Education Initiative, which brings me to my next point.
It is because of this that Mrs. Faye left for New-York. Before she left, as required by protocol, she had to bid farewell to president Jammeh, not in her own capacity, but that of the office she was vacating. Mrs. Faye left Gambia before the issues of the HIV/AIDS cure blew-up. On top of that, her tenure as head of UNICEF/UNAIDS had expired, so she was in no 'official' capacity to say anything about this, because she simply did not have the mandate to do so.
At this point I want to 'educate' the writer of the letter from 'State House' that the job of a Representative is merely that: to represent an organization (in this case the UN), and as such he/she cannot say nor do anything contrary to that Organization's policy. Even if Mrs. Faye were still the head of UNAIDS, or UNICEF, she would not be able to say or do anything without getting clearance from New York. This has to be understood in the context with which the international organizations operate in partnership with the host country.
Finally Sir, I say to the misguided writer of the article from "State House" that ignorance is not what you do not know; it is what you have chosen not to learn. Thanks.