[1][2] The 'Committee of Gentlemen' had four members, included Melville Senami Benoni Jones (returned from Ghana, journalist by profession), Edrissa J. Samba (businessman), Alexander Jobarteh (businessman) and Kebba Wally Foon (Labour Party supporter whilst a student in England, accountant by profession), with businessman and philanthropist John W. Bidwell-Bright sponsoring the group economically.
[1] NP opposed the proposals from the 1958 Chiefs Conference, as the Protectorate chief wanted ministries to be earmarked for the Protectorate, blocking political parties from operating there and excluding women from politics.
Foon represented NP at the 1959 Bathurst Constitutional Conference, convened by the governor.
[3][7] By the time the Gambia (Constitution) Order in Council, 1960 was published, NP had divided in two camps.
The pro-Democratic Party wing of NP joined the Committee of Citizens and protested against the order.