President Barrow says Sir Dawada should be comforted

Banjul, Gambia (PANA)  -   Gambian President Adama Barrow Thursday paid tribute to Gambia’s first president, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, saying he should be comforted because he led the country with dignified life.

He prayed to Allah to bless his soul and guide his family to have the strength to bear the grief.

Sir Jawara was laid to rest Thursday evening at the country’s National Assembly grounds in the capital, Banjul.

He had led The Gambia as prime minister and later as president from independence in 1965 to July 1994, when he was ousted by young soldiers led by army captain Yahya Jammeh.

Jawara died on Tuesday at his home in Fajara, in the country’s coastal town of Bakau, at the age of 95.

He was accorded a state funeral on Thursday before being laid to rest at the assembly grounds.

He was accorded a 21-gun salute by The Gambia Armed Forces as he lay in state at the assembly building, where Gambians and the international community paid their last respects to him.

He was accorded a Muslim burial ritual at King Fahad Mosque in the capital, Banjul, where final prayers were offered to him for his soul to rest in peace.

Dawda Jawara Jnr celebrated his father for what he described as a ‘selfless’ sacrifice for the emancipation of The Gambian people.

“As a son and family, our father had taught us that there is no shortcut in life,” he said, as he spoke on behalf of the family.

Gambian chief justice Hanssan B. Jallow praised Jawara for his leading role in human rights, saying that his efforts led to the Gambia hosting the African Commission on Human and People’s head office.

Sir Jawara’s childhood friend Dr. Lamin Marena described him as Gambia’s greatest person and son of Africa, saying his leadership role was for all. 

Speaker Mariama Jack Denton praised Sir Jawara for the leading role he played in the country’s emancipation from colonialism, calling him a man of absolute character and peace

.-0-   PANA    MSS/RA   29Aug2019