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mldoe
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
 Posted - 07 May 2006 : 01:42:16
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Can you kindly tell me what is the roll of Gambian embaccies and representatives over seas? Because! I wrong the Gambian embaccy in the UK for a new passport, they said, they are not issuing passports but they have passport application forms at the cost of £20.00 each. Ihey said, if I send them a photocopy of my old passport or ID, the £20.00 cost of fee by cash or postal order and a return stamp envilope they will send me a form by the post. Then I can send that same form to The Gambia for my family, friend or relative to process it for me at the Immigration Department in Banjul for a passport.
Even though I don't have to pay any extra fee in The Gambia but I begin to wonder why do I need to send my embaccy a return stamp envilope too with all these entire long process. Why cann't they afford at-least the cost of return mail stamps & envilopes for their own people they are representing here in The UK.
Pls! I want know if this is happening else where over seas appart from The UK. If sure, what is the roll & use of our over seas representatives compare to other nationals represntatives?
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 08:41:12
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| hi there, please be careful the UK embassy is only acting at present, not properly appointed. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 09:12:33
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Hi Mldoe,
As a British citizen I have to pay at least £60 to renew my passport, and £3.50 at least to get my documents returned to me. So I think yours is a bargain. You're lucky to be able to send in a photocopy there's no way you could do that at any British Embassy, you'd have to send in the original or bring it in yourself, and this is ranked 4th richest country in the world!
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 10:54:43
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I dont think you are hard done by considering return envelope is for the security of your own documents, as you get to choose the best secure service for your documents. Can you imagine your documents coming through the post by second class unregistered mail. To be fair to all including the tax payer you can afford £1.00 for a return registered mailed envelope ...so grow up
Personally I think the Embassy does very little to helping Gambians, I have spoken to two of the official about the services offered to Gambia and to be honest its a disgrace. You would be baffle to know that they do not offer legal advice or aid to Gambian, well apparently there is no such thing as legal aid for Gambians at the Embassy, no such thing as a Gambian register ..... the embassy knows nothing about the community it represent that is the bottom line. One of the top official told me there is no register when he walk into to the office and he did not try to set it up. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 11:11:11
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Hi Somita,
Have you thought about offering your services?
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 13:51:12
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Of course if it comes into my area of competency I shall be more than happy to give my service to my fellow country but unfortunately Sister, I am not an institution set up to look after the welfare of Gambians, the Embassy on the other hand is set up to look after Gambian welfare in UK, if fails woefully if its doesn't.
I am not making insertion or wishful thinking, i have spoken to officials in the Embassy at different times, under different circumstances, almost all of them are nice people but am afraid are not delivering good service to The Gambians Community.
I believe the efforts of establish institution can only achieve their objectives, if complemented by its responsible citizens, however where there is no such effort, its difficult to see how individuals can complemented it.
A year ago a group of school children were visiting Scotland, coming via glasgow, i lived here for 5years and I thought i would be a good assets to them. I phone the embassy to ask about the such visits, trying to see if I can spare some of time to help them out in any shape of form. The response from the embassy was they dont know about it official, they only heard it. This was a group of Gambian school children travelling in a group? does it boil your stomarch. You can see my point sister, even under circumstances where one one's to help, one needs information to be able to help unfortunately established institution are better at collecting information than individuals. Have a nice day
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 14:40:22
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quote:
unfortunately established institution are better at collecting information than individuals.
Unfortunately we often presume that institutions are better at providing information but unfortunately that is not always the case. That's where individual contributions come into the equation. After all an institution is only as effective as the members involved and sometimes another person viewpoint can help to place an alternative perspective on the team working inside the institution by bringing in new ideas.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 14:48:48
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Does that not bring the question of "incompetence" and not getting value for money for the tax payer? I believe such information should be basic to the functioning an embassy. Looking after the welfare of Gambians, step one should involve know who they are and where they are. Such information cannot be collected by every Tom, Dick and Harry, isnt it?
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 15:10:02
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Somita, You're right not all information can be collected by anyone, but if the Gambian High Commission doesn't receive documented request for specific information then it won't be regarded as an official request. In otherwise if Gambians aren't proactive in requesting certain information, then how do they expect the quality of service they receive to be improved after all those civil servants are paid to serve Gambians abroad. If Gambian Citizens think the service the Gambian High Commission is not up to scratch then write a letter of complaint to them, the more requests they receive the hight the priority will be given to specific issues. This in turn will enable the High Commission to re-evaluate the standard and quality of service it offer it's citizens. By the way Somita aren't their any Gambian Association who could provide such services like numerous different African DiasporaSelf-Help Groups have had to do by being pro-active amongst their individual communities in the UK.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 16:05:40
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Sister, its seems we on paralell views point although none is absolutely right. My view on this issue is very clear, that is establish institution should take the lead, to set up the basics requirements and you are of the view of having a voluntary institution should take the lead. I support the view a mixture of both is needed once the system is up and running however i strongly believe that the former should lead i.e established institution are more structure and therefore will provide better, reliable and accurate information than the later, voluntary institutions.
I look farward to having a voluntary government in place some day, will that not be great, does it sound impossible? of course not but rather not practical. Governments are expected to be structured establishments, with a better system of authority, accountability and responsibity in the worse case senario better than volunatary establishment.
I cannot comprehend the view that those paid to do the job should listen attentatively not think, I would be sack from my work if I only listen not act on my professional knowledge.
Its certainly not my job, i only think about it when I have an issue that requires going through the embassy, otherwise i dont have sleepless nights over it. Its unbelieveable that you seems to subscribe to the notion of shared laziness at the work place.
Have a good day sister |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 17:03:35
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hi I think the UK gambian embassy is loosing the plot they wait for authorisation from Banjul before they move or make a phone call that delays even the smallest decision. They are scared to make a judgement call.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 19:04:45
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| Jambo is the Gambian High Comissioner aware that he is only acting have you informed him of your reality yet? |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 19:19:38
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Somita I don't if you're aware that many of the African and African Caribbean communities in Britain have formed Associations to meet the specific requirements of their communities to dessiminate information and to assist in the nation buildings of their countries, and to assist their nationals with immigration challenges etc. They don't soley depend on their Embassies but work in conjunction with them through networking and capacity building to bridge the gap, that these institutions fail to cover or assist them in doing so.
So I'm not supporting inefficiency at work, if these institutions aren't monitored and evaluated then they will continue to offer low service performance because they are not been made accountable by their nationals, and if their nationals are lathergic by being complacent then they only have their selves to blame for not being proactive in bringing about desirable changes they require.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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