By Yankuba Jallow
Professor Pierre Gomez, Dean School of Arts and Science yesterday February 23, 2017 launched a book entitled 
‘The Long Road to Democracy in The Gambia’ at the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI). The event was well attended by writers, authors, poets, students of the University of The Gambia, the media among other entities. Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, a Lecturer at the University of The Gambia who made a presentation on the review of the Book said that the content of the book is divided into four stages. The first stage was the period prior to the election and the election itself, the second stage was the period when the former President was declared the loser till before he changed his mind, the third and the fourth stages comprise the Inauguration of President Barrow, the ECOMIG Intervention and President Jammeh fleeing run into exile.
The event was graced with dramatisations of some of the poems written by prominent poets such as Mr. Musa Bah (The Scribbler), Nfamara Fofana, Mariba S. Hydara, David Kujabi and Abdoulie Jallow among others. The book entails some poems such as ‘Real Eyes Realise Real Lies’, ‘We Shall Prevail’, ‘Debouch’, ‘The Night of Anguish’ and ‘Gambia Has Decided’. Regarding to his biography, Professor Pierre Gomez obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French at Chiekh Anta Diop University, Dakar in 1998. From there, he proceeded to the University of Besancon (France) for his advanced Diploma in Education (Distinction) and then University of Limoges (France) for his Master of Arts (Distinction), Master of Philosophy (Distinction)PhD (Distinction) in Comparative Literature(1999-2005).
Professor Gomez, in his vote of thanks thanked Gambians for the maturity they displayed during the past political impasse. He thanked the Media especially Foroyaa Newspaper from whose columns ‘The Young Should Be Told The Truth’ he gathered most of his information. “Governments come and go but The Gambia remains, so let serve the nation and worship none but God,” Prof. Gomez asserted. He concluded by saying ‘in academia, people do not campaign for leaders’.
Chief Launcher, Madam Hannah Forster, Executive Secretary, African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, hailed Professor Gomez for his good work, adding that she cannot ignore the roles played by the social media during the difficult times of the country. She urged all Gambians to work towards attainment of our goals and never to relax as now is the time to work for the betterment of the country. She commended the youths of the nation for being engaged during the political impasse by engaging themselves in one way or the other for the former leader to vacate office. “People should stand and claim for freedom as it does not come cheap,” she highlighted. In her final remarks, Madam Forster urged African leaders to be good examples for their citizenry.
