"Taiwan needs a leader like Jammeh" says Ambassador Dr Chang as he ends his tour of duty after three years
President's banquet and medal of honour for a good Friend of The Gambia

Remarks to be made by Ambassador Patrick P.C. Chang at the decorations ceremony on April 30, 2008

"Your Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh,Your Excellency the Vice President, Hon. Speaker and members of the National Assembly, Honourable Secretaries of State, Secretary General and Chief of Civil Servants, His Lordship Chief Justice, H.E. Dean and Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, (Lordships Mayors of Banjul and Kanifing), Chief of Services, Religious Leaders, Friends, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my great honour and privilege to be here standing before this rostrum on the occasion to be invited to the dinner hosted by His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh to bid farewell to me, after I have served as Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for more than three years in completion of my tour of duties. First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express to His Excellency the President my heartfelt gratitude for the hospitality and the support His Excellency and His Excellency's Government, including all the Honourable Secretaries of State and their colleagues, have given to me personally and my colleagues at the Embassy during my tenure of office.


I have to thank His Excellency the President for the invitation to the various State Banquets, Independence Celebrations, Revolution Anniversaries, Birthday Celebrations and cultural activities. I would especially express my sincere appreciation for the unwavering and staunch support the Government of The Gambia gives us every year in our bid for the admission to the WHO and the Un. The Gambian representatives, no matter they are Secretary of State for Health and Social Affairs or Permanent

Representative at the U.N., are always among the forerunners in endorsing our efforts and speaking for us alt the instructions of the Government of the Republic of The Gambia under the brilliant leadership of His Excellency of the President. It is especially unforgettable to our people in Taiwan and when His Excellency the President or Her Excellency the Vice President led the Gambian delegation to the U.N. and articulately and eloquently expressing the persuasive arguments for the admission of 23 million people in Taiwan to the WHO and the U.N. The voice of justice has long lived in the hearts of our people in Taiwan and let those who spoke against or kept silent feel ashamed in the face of the Charters of the WHO and the U.N.

My work here in the past three years have been very pleasant. In Honourable Speaker's Remarks, my three years in The Gambia seemed like three days; to me personally, these three days looked like just yesterday. The reason is very simple: because I always have been enjoying my work and have never been aware of the passage of time. In this respect, I have to thank His Excellency the President for maintaining peace and stability in the sub-region in general and in The Gambia in particular, for creating a conducive environment for work.  The President's efforts are to improve the livelihood of the people of The Gambia.  In this juncture, I have witnessed this development from the very beginning.

When I arrived in the country on January 11, 2005, I was immediately attracted by President's two campaigns:  Operation No Compromise which reminds civil servants that we must not be corrupt and have to keep our accounts accountable and transparent; another one is Campaign to Clean the Nation which requires people to keep the environment clean.  As a result, mosquitoes have become less and the number of people who suffered from Malaria have become small.  This is not satisfactory yet.  

The government has decided that Malaria has to be eradicated from The Gambia like what Polio was eradicated from The Gambia.  We are pleased that we have been called upon to participate in this endeavour.  Since it is a good cause, I hope that we shall do it every year.  To share our experience, it took us thirteen years from 1952 to 1965 to eradicate Malaria from Taiwan, when WHO declared on Dec. 4, 1965 that Taiwan was Malaria free.

While working in The Gambia, I had the great honour to accompany His Excellency the President to pay state visits to my country two times: one time in October 2005 and another time in December 2007.  Those were the valuable opportunities for me to learn from His Excellency the President.  The President has told me that every time he visited Taiwan he was always inspired.  

And what I have found from His Excellency is his love and concerns with the improvement of the livelihood of the people of The Gambia.  Wherever he found the good variety of agricultural produce, he would like to bring the seeds home for development.  What I can tell is that His Excellency always has the interests of the people of The Gambia at heart.

On the recent trip, it was in early December last year before our presidential election on March 22 this year.  Despite the close personal friendship with the ruling party, he advised his good friend that as a leader of the country, one has to be broad-minded and tolerant and to not find faults with the trivial things of the people when suggestion was made to take down the big Chinese Characters left behind by the former government at a memorial square.  This cautious attitude has won the praise of the mass media in Taipei, saying that Taiwan also needs a leader like His Excellency.

We have identified some important projects to fulfill in the years to come, such as solar energy, wind-powered energy, aquaculture and even traditional medicine, etc.  When I am leaving this country I have a feeling that I have some missions unaccomplished.  I have to admit that I am leaving with reluctance.

However, I have a successor who is coming to take my place on May 15th.  I have told him that he should continue to do what I have left and do it even better.  I think I have to express my sincere thanks to President Chen Shui-bian of my out-going government who had appointed me and gave me full confidence and support so that I could fulfill my obligation.  

At this transitional period of time of my government, from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, DPP to the opposition Kuomintang Party, KMT, I would like to assure Your Excellency that the cordial relations happily existing between the two countries will be steadily continue.  Actually, the forth-coming government which is going to be inaugurated on May 20th and to the ceremony of which Your Excellency has designated Her Excellency Vice President Aja Dr. Isatou Njie Saidy to lead a delegation to attend, is no stranger to The Gambia.  

It is easily recalled that the government is the very one with which The Gambia resumed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1995.  Therefore, I am very certain that the cordial relations will be continued and will become even better, as the government has much better support coming from the legislature.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency the President for conferring upon me this insignia of the Commander of the Republic of The Gambia.  This is the greatest award and honour I have ever received in my life.  This represents the honour for my people, my government, my-self personally, my family and my colleagues who have been helping and assisting in my work here in The Gambia.  I shall cherish this great honour for the rest of my life.

Tomorrow, I am leaving this beautiful country and going back to Taiwan.  I shall bring with me the happy memories of the beautiful scenery, hospitality of the President and his government, friendly and peace-loving people.  I shall miss all of these.  I take this opportunity to wish Your Excellency continued prosperity, happiness and good health.

Long live the President!  Long live The Gambia"