(1) Firstly, Ms Darboe wrote:- “…However, a seismic tremor tore my heart when I came across the words: “On 1st December 2013, I was awarded a PhD Degree Honoris Causa in Philosophy by the Zoe Life Theological College, Philadelphia, USA, for “Promoting and Sponsoring Christianity in The Gambia”. I cannot fathom any plausible reason, why this prestigious academic achievement of mine should “tore the heart” of Ms Darboe, because it is very factual.
(2) Secondly, Ms Darboe wrote: “Dr Carrol continued: As the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, I was the Master & Chairman of Ceremonies of that grand occasion, characterized by pomp and pageantry. This without more demonstrate without a shadow of doubt that Dr Carrol is using this tribute to a man who during his days on earth stands for peace, religious tolerance, democracy and good governance for no more honorable purpose than self – glorification”. Here Ms Darboe is alluding to a grand launching ceremony, that took place at the Ministry of Justice on 11th February 2011, by Her Excellency Dr Ajaratou Isatou Njie-Saidy, the Vice president Of The Republic Of The Gambia & Minister of Women’s Affairs, on behalf of His Excellency, The President Of The Republic of The Gambia, Sheikh Professor Alhaji D r Yahya AJJ Jammeh, who made a personal colossal financial contribution, for the revision of the existing Gambian laws, and the revised volumes were published by Lexis Nexis (Proprietary) Limited in South Africa. All the learned members of The Gambia’s legal fraternity, are extremely grateful to HE, The President, for this generosity and kindness. Everything said in my tribute concerning this official ceremony, in relation to the late archbishop and my humble self are also factual, and this can be confirmed beyond all reasonable doubt, by official records in the Attorney General’s Chambers & Ministry of Justice. I therefore strongly rebut Ms Darboe’s fallacious statement, that I was using the aforesaid official ceremony for a dishonorable purpose (i.e. for self – glorification). I also do not comprehend, why the official role I actually played at the aforesaid official ceremony, should cause “enormous embarrassment” to Ms Darboe.
(3) Thirdly, Ms Darboe wrote:- “Knowing Dr Carrol for a long time, I am fairly well aware of the fact that he never passes up an opportunity to proclaim to anyone who cares to listen the many degrees he has earned, but I dare say that the worth of a man is not measured by the amount of academic degrees under his belt, but the sum total of his efforts to supporting the entrenchment of Justice, democracy and good governance in society”. As I have said earlier on in this missive, I do not know any “Sitaba Darboe” in my life, and all the negative things he/she is saying about me in the above quotation, is nothing but a Mount Kilimanjaro of lies. He/she is accusing my humble self of not “supporting the entrenchment of Justice, democracy and good governance in society”. Any person in his/her right senses, who reads my tribute in its entirety, will definitely come to the inevitable conclusion, that these are the noble ideals, which I have been constantly promoting in our beloved Gambian society, ever since I qualified as a barrister – at – law several years ago.
(4) Finally, Ms Darboe wrote:- “While I am by no means trying to frustrate his tumescent dreams of grandeur and forcing himself into the consciousness of the nation, I respectfully submit to my learned friend to put his erudition to more useful ends”. Contrary to what Ms Darboe is asserting, he/she is in fact endeavouring to discourage me from continuing my positive contributions to national developments that are presently ongoing in our beloved motherland, I am not in any way “forcing myself into the consciousness of the nation”. Also by referring to me as “My Learned Friend”, he/she is projecting the fallacious impression, that he/she is fully qualified and learned barrister -at – law, who has been called to The Gambia Bar, and if I should investigate this allegation with the master of the High Court, Mr Buba Jawo, and he provides me empirical evidence to the contrary, then “Sitaba Darboe” can also be charged for “impersonating a lawyer who is a member of the Gambia bar”.
In the light of the aforesaid, since you went ahead and published the aforesaid highly defamatory letter to the editor, written by “Sitaba Darboe”, I am now requesting you to urgently publish an apology to me, in a place of equal prominence as the aforesaid published article, within seven days from the date of this my letter, and please let me know in advance in which edition of your newspaper, the apology will be published.
Dr Henry Carrol
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