The Gambian Vice President, Dr Isatou Touray, has defended her remarks about Gambian youths and claimed it was taken “out of context”.

Dr Touray during a distribution of food packages for 84% Gambian households amid Covid-19 described manual labour work as “dignified and great job opportunities for Gambian youths”, adding “the youths are lazy and don’t want to do that type of work which are being done by foreign nationals.”

Her statement drew criticism from many sections of the Gambian society. Politicians and youth leaders lambasted Dr Touray for her “disrespectful statement” and urged her to withdraw it.

And Dr Touray on Thursday told state broadcaster GRTS “we want to thank also the security forces they have been very useful in this process because you can see the observation, I made the last time with regards to lack of labour and how people are taking it out of context.

“They are taking it out of context as a government it is our duty to focus, it is our duty to work and to give and respond to the circumstances they are – because this is an emergency.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba