Hon. Bekai’s body laid to rest at Baja Kunda in URR

The late lawmaker was accorded a State Burial

Parliamentarians paying last respect (Pix by statehouse.gm)

The remains of the late Hon. Bekai Camara, National Assembly Member for Wuli East Constituency has been laid to rest on Tuesday March 8, 2011 at his home village Baja Kunda, Wuli East District, the Upper River Region (URR) of The Gambia.

The late Hon died on Sunday March 6, 2011, at the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) in Banjul were he was admitted and receiving treatment after what has been described as “a brief” illness.

The decease was laid-in-state on Monday before his colleagues at National Assembly Building in Banjul, the Vice President, Cabinet Minister, a host of Seniors Government officials and sympathizers were present to pay their last respect to their fallen colleague.

Hon. Camara was reported to have suffered from illness and got admitted at the RVTH on February 27, 2011 before his untimely death. He is survived by three wives and children, his mother and a brother.

He has served on various Committees at National Assembly among which he was the Vice Chairperson of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee on Climate Change; the Chairman of the Network of Parliamentarians on the Environment and Climate Change West Africa.

Born on February 18, 1968, after finishing his schooling, he worked as a broadcaster with Radio Gambia, and later the National Environment Agency (NEA), before he was elected National Assembly Member for Wuli East in the 2007 parliamentary elections.

His colleagues at the National Assembly said of him being a person who was dedicated to the service of the nation and committed to the progress and development of the Legislature.

“Hon. Bekai was a formidable advocate of democracy and freedom as a journalist and a politician. Due to his dedication and readiness to serve his nation, he became the first Gambian MP to serve as Vice Chairman of the West African Network of Parliamentarians on Environment and Climate Change,” Mr. Dodou Kebbeh the Clark of the Assembly said.

On his part, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Abdoulie Bojang said: “It was due to his tireless efforts, hard work, commitment and dedication to national duty that he was elected as the peoples’ trustee.”  “The late Hon Bekai was someone who respected the opinions of his colleagues and contributed effectively during assembly debates.”

Hon Sidia Jatta, National Assembly Member for Wuli West described the decease as a man who was full of hope and aspirations and has been able to conduct himself and served the country, the Assembly and the people of Wuli East to the fullest of his ability.

The Majority Leader and Member for Serrekunda East Hon Fabakary Tombong Jatta, the Minority Leader and Member for Kiang West Hon Momodou L.K Sanneh all echoed similar sentiments.