The newly-appointed US ambassador to Banjul, on Thursday hosted a colourful reception at his official residence in Fajara, Bakau.

Ambassador Barry Wells hosted distinguished government officials, including the speaker of the National Assembly, Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, the secretary of state for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Mass Axie Gye, the mayor of Banjul, Hon Samba Faal, the chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba and other service chiefs, diplomats, business executives and media chiefs, politicians, among other dignitaries.

There was much humour as the MD of the Observer Company, Dida Halake, greeted the ambassador as the "governor general" to Banjul as they introduced, the Ambassador flanked by his wife, Mrs Wells and Fatou Camara-Saidy, protocol at the US Banjul Embassy.

The humorously combative MD later on caught up with the opposition UDP leader Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, whom he challenged to a full-page interview in the Daily Observer. Veteran politician Femi Peters readily accepted the request, but the MD turned him down, saying "the Daily Observer is a heavyweight newspaper and only carries interviews with the heavyweights".

The interaction among the invited guests was joyous as Ambassador Wells and members of his new team engaged various personalities in the spirit of hospitality and goodwill.
In a succinct speech delivered at the reception, the ambassador assured his embassy's resolve to promote bilateral cooperation on all fronts - economic, education, social, and other areas.

He also committed to work closely with the Peace Corps in the country and then thanked the guests for honouring the invitation.
 
Ambassador Wells then showered commendations on a handful of beauty queens from Miss Black USA in the United States for cementing the bridge between Washington and Banjul.