Africa-Press – Gambia. The Gambia’s Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has defended National Assembly Member (NAM) for Sabach Sanjal, Hon. Alhagie Babu Ceesay, over controversial comments that sparked public criticism. The remarks, perceived by many as referring to protesters as “cockroaches and mice,” were clarified by the minister during an interview on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez.
While acknowledging that the language used was inappropriate, Dr. Ceesay maintained that it should not be interpreted as a targeted insult.
“I don’t want to speak for the National Assembly member, but I’ve been following that debate, and I don’t, what I listened to, he did not call the specific protesters cockroaches and mice. He did not. What I listened to is that he said that we have a democracy, that is why now every cockroach and mice is out and demonstrating, not particularly referring to the demonstrators obviously, the language is tasteless, obviously. I mean, even if you want to fight anybody you cannot use that language in the National Assembly” he said.
Dr. Ceesay reiterated that the MP’s comments were general in nature and not specifically aimed at the recent Gala protest group.
“But my argument is that he did not particularly refer to this group of Gala protesters as mice and cockroaches directly,” He explained.
The minister explained that the National Assembly member was speaking in general terms about how democracy gives everyone the right to protest. “So I think it was a direct translation that maybe went wrong,” he noted.
He also clarified that he was offering his own interpretation, not speaking on behalf of the MP. “I am not speaking for him, it is not my Job to speak for him, but what I understand from what he was saying was that, the New Democrats are in a situation where every Tom, Dick, and Harry, but he said every cockroach and mice goes out to protest,” he said.
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