Stranded in The Gambia
An Arran man has been caught up in the unrest in The Gambia. Maurice Deighton, who helped set up a school there, faces an uncertain few days at he waits for a flight out of the troubled country.
An Arran man has been caught up in outbreak of unrest in The Gambia.
Maurice Deighton, of Seal Shore Camping in Kildonan, helped set up the Isle of Arran nursery school in the west African country and is a regular volunteer visitor.
He is one of thousands from Britain who are being brought back after the Foreign Office issued new travel advice.
But while package holidaymakers are being given priority, Maurice is among the other 2,500 flight-only customers who are being told they will be offered the ‘earliest available flight’.
Maurice, who has been doing voluntary work in the country for 12 years, has been developing the school in the town of Sukata for the past eight years.
Speaking from The Gambia, he told the Banner that most of the children at the school had fled over the country’s borders with their families, but the borders have now been closed.
‘It is now just a waiting game and the biggest concern I have is looting at the school. But we are all sticking together and I hope to be home soon.’
The Foreign Office now advises against all but essential travel to The Gambia.
A 90-day state of emergency has been declared and approved by Gambia’s parliament over disputed elections.
The country’s president, Yahya Jammeh, was due to finish his term this week following his defeat in elections, but this has now been extended by 90 days by parliament.
Regional leaders have threatened to use military force to oust Mr Jammeh if he refuses to hand power to president-elect Adama Barrow.