In a press release signed on behalf of the Secretary-General by the Director of Press and Public Relations Office of the President, the general public is hereby informed that all those in possession of Service and Diplomatic passports while they have ceased to be in government service are requested to surrender their passports immediately to the Inspector-General of Police not later than Monday, 8th October 2007. The release concluded that failure to do so would lead to drastic action against those concerned.
No. A service passport is issued to public officials while holding public office. Not all public officials are entitled to a a Service passport. Officers below the rank of a grade 10 usually are not entitled to a service passport except for those working in the diplomatic and foreign departments like embassies and the Ministry of External Affairs.
All other public officials below grade 10 can only travel on the ordinary Gambian Passport. Servive and Diplomatic Passport holders tend to be issued visas as gratis and less rigorous requirements as in the case of ordinary passport holders.
Diplomatic passports are guaranteed visas gratis whilst the Service Passport Holders are usually a matter of discretion dpending on which embassy is issuing the visa and sometimes the nature of the visits and the nature of relations between the two countries.
This is why senior officials rush in for a Service Passport once they reach grade 10. The Service Passport is Brown in Colour, the Diplomatic is Red i believe whilst the ordinary is green.
The Diplomatic passport is issued to Diplomats as designated by the Executive with the advise of the Foreign Ministry.
You can be designated a Diplomat with no portfolio.
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.”
Topic Locked
Posted - 05 Oct 2007 : 18:03:25
