Source: The Point
The first Gambian female governor in the history of the country, Siffai Hydara, has reaffirmed her allegiance and loyalty to the APRC party under the leadership of President Yahya Jammeh, adding that she would do her utmost best to live up to expectations in raising the flag of the Gambian women.
The newly-appointed West Coast governor was speaking during an interview with this reporter in her office in Brikama on Wednesday.
She expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the President for the trust and confidence bestowed on her in appointing her as the first Gambian female governor, which she said was a history in the country.
"I am very honoured and proud to be the first Gambian female governor in this country," Siffai Hydara said.
She described President Jammeh as an exemplary leader, saying this was the reason why since 1994 women of The Gambia had been steadily supporting him.
She said for that reason President Jammeh had appointed her as a first female governor in the name of Gambian women, and she therefore thanked him for empowering Gambian women.
She further assured President Jammeh that she would do her utmost best to involve everyone onboard to ensure success is registered in the West Coast Region.
The newly-appointed governor also said she was a community worker and her aim is to operate as a team and would involve everyone so that together they could register unprecedented progress.
She added that no stone would be left unturned, within her purview, in the journey to develop The Gambia.
On what plans she had for the people of the West Coast Region, the newly-appointed WCR governor said she would not comment much on that until she meet the district chiefs, National Assembly Members of the region and women leaders including youth leaders to discuss with them and set up priorities with the participation of all in the interest of the country.
Talking about her background, the female governor said she is a born citizen of Brikama Sanneh-kunda, where her mother hailed from.
"I went through my education at Brikama Primary School, Secondary Technical School and the Rural Community Development Institute in Mansakonko," she said.
She added that she graduated as a community development assistant and worked for the department of community development for about fifteen years.
"I developed my ability to organise people, which has greatly helped me in my political career," she added.
She said she also travelled to Cameroun to study rural development at an advanced level, as well as did management study at MDI and had attended a lot of international courses on community development and administration.
She disclosed that prior to her appointment she had been working at the KMC as an administrator under the director of administration.
Politically, she added, since the coming of the second republic under the leadership of President Jammeh she had been selected by the women of Kombo Central through the then chief of the district, Dembo Santang Bojang, to become the lady councillor of the district representing Kombo Central at the National Women Council.
According to her, she started politics since 1994 and was always beside President Jammeh until she was given the position of a lady councillor and two months later she was appointed as the regional women mobiliser for West Coast Region.
She thanked the former governor, the women and the present chief for their support and encouragement and promised to work with them in the best interest of the country.
She noted that it was only through partnership and teamwork they could register success, while thanking the Gambian women for ensuring they implement President Jammeh's dream and objectives.
She solicits the support of everyone and calls for collective effort in national development.
She also thanked the Secretary General and Minister of Presidential Affairs for his ceaseless encouragement.
