By Seedy Jobe
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, has defended his involvement in politics, saying accepting a ministerial appointment inherently makes him a politician and affirming his support for President Adama Barrow.
Speaking to journalist Ebrima Baldeh, Prof. Gomez said ministers cannot separate their government responsibilities from politics, adding that he supports President Barrow and the National People’s Party (NPP).
“My position as minister, I’m a politician. All ministers are politicians. That’s number one. There’s nowhere where you will accept a ministerial position and then say that you are not a politician,” he said.
Prof. Gomez was responding to questions about whether joining the government represented a departure from his previous position as an academic.
He rejected that characterization, saying his fundamental objective remains contributing to national development. He described his decision to join the government as answering a call to become one of the “labourers of the Republic.”
“I’m telling people to understand that I’m still the same they used to know. Because one is about fulfilling the mission. We grew up being told about the future of The Gambia,” he said.
Prof. Gomez said he views his political role largely through public service and the implementation of government policies, particularly efforts to expand technical and vocational education and training across the country.
He said the ministry is working to establish regional centres of excellence to give young Gambians greater access to skills training without requiring them to leave their communities.
According to the minister, planned centres in Ndemban, Pacharr and the Central River Region South will focus on agribusiness, while another facility in Tujereng will specialize in aquaculture and fisheries.
Prof. Gomez also announced plans for a Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund aimed at supporting public and private TVET institutions and providing scholarships and stipends to students enrolled in skills-training programmes.
He maintained that implementing such policies is part of his political responsibility, arguing that expanding education and skills opportunities for young Gambians is central to his role in government.
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