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| President Jammeh, who sent Tajudeen packing in June, says the Lebanese business magnet is free to return (Photo Credit: AFP) |
A
Lebanese business tycoon who was asked out of The Gambia on June 4 by President
Jammeh has been told on Friday he can return.
Hussein
Tajudeen, proprietor of Tajco Company Limited, was declared Persona Non-Grata
and asked to leave the West African country within 72 hours over allegations he
was “involved in undesirable business activities which have very serious health
and economic consequences to the people and State [of The Gambia].”
Now,
an October 25 press statement stated the Gambian leader has pardoned Mr
Tajudeen and has given him the green light to return as of this month.
Tajudeen,
who runs a collection of businesses including Gambia’s largest supermarket
[Kairaba Shopping Center], is considered one of the biggest investors in The
Gambia.
The
Lebanese businessman is a holder of the Insignia of Officer of the National
Order of the Republic of The Gambia (ORG).
His
Tajco Company and an array of business establishments have been blacklisted by
the US State Department over allegations of “providing funds to the
terrorist-designated Lebanon-based Hezbollah movement” and “having links to
Lebanese Canadian Bank accused of engaging in money laundering.”
Following
Tajudeen’s expulsion in June, The Gambia warned businessmen “to strictly adhere
to the rules of engagement, in the interest of their businesses, the consumers
and the State.”
“Despite
the fact that The Gambia has a liberal economy, the State will not condone
greedy and unscrupulous businessmen who are just after their profit margins and
not the welfare and well-being of the consumers,” it stated.
President
Jammeh issued a ban on the importation of frozen chicken legs shortly after
expelling Mr Tajudeen who was also heavily involved in the importation of
chicken legs into the country. The ban takes effect in September 2013.
Written by Modou S. Joof
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