By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Muhammad Jaiteh, the Director of the Forestry Department within the Ministry of Environment, has refuted allegations that he was compelled to retire after 36 years in public service. These assertions surfaced following a report suggesting that the Director had been pushed into retirement just seven months shy of his official retirement date.
This development stems from increasing dissatisfaction among Gambians regarding managing the nation’s forest resources, including interference from the Ministry of Environment, which has recently initiated an investigation against key forestry department officials.
He is said to have tendered his request for retirement last month, which the Public Service Commission approved last week.
An insider at the Department of Forestry who prefers to remain anonymous confirmed the forestry director’s premature retirement, hinting that Director Jaiteh has been subjected to undue pressure from the Ministry of Environment.
Undue pressures from the Ministry of Environment could have significantly triggered Director Muhammad Jaiteh’s sudden premature retirement.
A source who works with Jaiteh told TAT that the highly qualified forestry official is a crucial asset to the country’s forestry department, and his departure at this critical time will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the department’s operations.
The Insider informed TAT that Malang Jassey, a trained sports administrator, will now oversee the forestry department. The Insider expressed concerns about Jassey’s lack of knowledge and experience in forestry, suggesting that managing such an important office will be challenging for him.
“I have not resigned, but rather, I took voluntary retirement even though I have seven to eight months left to attain my full retirement age. I have not been pressured in whatever form; I just took the decision based on my health condition,” Momodou Lamin Jaiteh, Director of Forestry, disclosed to TAT.
He added, “I have served this country for about 36 years, and with my health condition, I thought it wise to voluntarily retire. I want to thank all stakeholders for their unwavering support during my time.”
