By Baba Sillah
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr M Tambadou has called on the newly graduate law students to always protect and defend the rights of the society and not to engage in prestigious lifestyles.
Minister Tambadou who also doubles as the Vice Chairperson of the General Legal Council made this remark yesterday during a ceremony held at High Court in Banjul marking the fifth call to the Bar of fifty-one law students who have completed their two-year bar course at the Gambia Law School.
The Justice Minister further seized the ceremony to advise the graduates to work hard to save the community and empower them as the profession plays a crucial role in dispensation of democracy, good governance and rule of law.
“This day open a new chapter in the history of The Gambia as the first batch of law students to be called to the bar in this new Gambia which anchor on democracy, good governance and rule of law. We must work hard to safe our communities and empower them as the profession plays a crucial role in democracy, good governance and rule of law. As graduates who are entering into the profession as lawyers, you must not engage in prestigious lifestyle rather you should always protect and defend the right of the society and the community as your priority,” Minister Tambadou advised.
Justice Minister further challenged the graduates to take courage, responsibility and be up right in their conduct in order to build trust and confidence in them by the public.
He promised his ministry’s intention to make the judiciary more independent, security of tenure and indigenous with local expertise.
On his part, the Chief Justice and Chairperson of the General Legal Council, Hassan B Jallow also challenged the graduates to be prepared for the lifetime of honesty, integrity and lifetime to learn continuously with hard work in order to prepare for future challenges as preparation is the key to success.
He postulated: “As you are called to the bar as legal practitioners, you need to acquaint yourself with history, culture and politics in order to guide you in your profession as a lawyer as the profession has always been a noble profession in the history. You are also expected to be honest and have integrity in your conduct so as to build confidence in you. You must always put the interest of your community or society as your first priority and not to let them down. It is true that your call to the bar cannot be possible without the support of your families and on that note, I have the honor on behalf of the Director General of the General Legal Council to welcome you to the bar.”
Deputising the President, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Fatoumatta Tambajang-Jallow who is also overseeing the office of the Vice President assured government’s readiness to support the judiciary with requisite resources to make it more independent while commended the bar for the bold steps it took during the political impasse in ensuring that democracy, good governance and rule of law as well as the will of the citizens are respected.
At the end of the ceremony prizes were awarded to best students in various subject areas as follows.
Muhammed B Sowe is awarded as the best Legal Drafting and Conveyancing, Company Law and Commercial Practices. Professional Conduct, Office Management and Solicitors Accounts is awarded to Mariama Njie Kaira, Law of Evidence, Gambia Legal System is awarded to Mariatou J Newlands. English and Legislative Drafting is awarded to Sulayman Jallow. Best student in Criminal Procedure is awarded to Abdou Aziz Saho while best students in Advocacy Skills are awarded to Aji Rohey Bah, Magigain Gorre Njie, Mariatou J Newlands, Isatou Darbo, Mariama Njie Kaira and Muhammed B Sowe..
