We the undersigned Gambians living in New York City, United States of America hereby write to urge you to step in and get the Gambian Embassy in Washington DC to proceed with the nomination of Mr. Alhagi Ebou Cham to be Honorary Consul of New York City, United States of America, without any further delay, in pursuant to his election to this position held on February 3rd, 2019.
Mr Alhagi Ebou Cham was elected to this position based on the guidelines and criteria set forth by the Gambian Embassy in Washington DC. The notice and information about the New York City Consul position were posted in many social media sites and at various WHATAPPS Groups in New York City. The information that was provided by the Embassy also included the criteria required to be met by any applicant and the deadline for the submission of applications. At a meeting attended by a cross-section of New Yorkers held on January 23,2019, it was decided and agreed that a five-persons committee be nominated and be tasked with electing the Consul, in the event that more than one application was received. This committee was tasked with receiving applications, and vetting applicants based on the guidelines provided by the Embassy in Washington DC.
At the close of the application deadline, the committee received two applications and found all two applicants met the criteria to be Honorary Consul of New York City, and scheduled the election for February 3rd, 2019 at Masjid Darul Arqam located at 1420 Sheridan Avenue, Bronx NY 10457.
The date of the election was widely disseminated on all WHATTAPP GROUPS in New York City and all New Yorkers were invited to attend including the two candidates (Mr. Ebrima Ceesay and Mr. Alhagi Ebou Cham). The election was attended by more than 100 New Yorkers including Mr Ceesay and Mr Cham who were given 10 minutes each to make their case to the five electors as to why they should be elected as honorary Consul of New York City. At the end of their presentations to the five electors, a secret voting was held where Mr. Cham garnered three votes and Mr. Ceesay got two votes, hence Mr. Cham was declared the winner by the electors. After the conclusion of the election, a report was made to the Embassy indicating the outcome of the election and the nomination of Mr. Alhagi Ebou Cham to be Honorary Consul of New York City.
Almost eight months have past and New Yorkers have not had any communication from the Embassy in Washington regarding the nomination of Mr. Cham. It was therefore a surprise to a majority of Gambian New Yorkers when Ambassador Fedara casted doubt on the outcome of the election during the recently held town hall meeting with the Vice President of The Gambia in New York City on September 25, 2019. We in New York City had followed all the procedures prescribed by the Embassy in electing a Consul and are deeply disappointed in the Ambassador’s assertion that due to some passive disunited among Gambians in New York City, somewhere the election of Mr. Cham is tainted. We believe some New Yorkers who supported the losing candidate aided by the Embassy have concocted this story in an effort to prevent Mr. Cham’s nomination from moving forward. This election was conducted in the fairest and most transparent manner, and any suggestion of unfairness is totally untrue.
Therefore, we the undersign will not allow a re-run of the ballot because a small group of people didn’t like the outcome of the election because they feel entitled. Both candidates made their case to the five people who were chosen to elect the Consul, and everyone knew well in advance of the election, that the five people who were selected at a meeting of Gambian New Yorkers would have the final say in who becomes the nominee to fill the Consul position. The five electors, who were selected at that meeting represented the tribal and ethnic diversity of The Gambia, 2 Mandinkas, 1 Fula, 1 Wollof and 1 Manjago/Jola.
We the undersign are therefore seeking your timely intervention, and to ask the Gambian Embassy in Washington DC to advance without any further delay the nomination of Mr. Alhagi Ebou Cham to the position of Honorary Consul of New York City.
Mr Cham has done a lot within The Gambian community in New York and elsewhere in the USA. He has demonstrated over the years his commitment and unflinching support to all Gambians irrespective of political and religious affiliation.
However, we are convinced if selected for this honorary position, he will do an excellent job in unifying The Gambian community in New York and the surrounding states.
We are submitting this special request to be treated with urgency. We thank you for your support and cooperation in resolving this matter.
Yours Sincerely
Gambians in New York City
