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Gambia News : Jammeh calls for re-dedication as Gambia celebrates national day
The Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh, has urged Gambians to rededicate themselves into to transform the Gambia into a super power.
Delivering the traditional official independence anniversary statement before a vast crowd including school children, diplomats and other invited guests in Banjul on Thursday, President Jammeh thanked President Abdoulie Wade of Senegal and General Sekouba Konate of Guinea Conakry for joining Gambians at the celebrations of their country’s 45th anniversary of independence.
He acknowledged the presence of the speaker of the Guinea Bissau parliament as his country’s representative at the occasion.
This annual address to school children was preceded by a march past of school children, the armed and security forces, along with voluntary organisations like scouts and the boys’ brigade, which was the high point of the annual event.
However, the celebrations also included an official reception on the eve of the day, a national athletics competition for high schools and a state banquet on the day of the event, besides other festivities on a day observed as a national holiday.
Speaking on the theme of patriotism and honesty, on a day for reflection, he lashed out at the British colonial administration for leaving The Gambia in a state of backwardness at independence 45 years ago.
Jammeh catalogued, at that time, the shortage of trained Gambians in the medical and scientific fields, and in education generally as well as the shortcomings in the provision of electricity, potable water and the road network saying that there were only five Gambians with a university degree and none with a masters degree or promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
“Today, we have more than 600 graduates and more than 50 medical doctors,” he stated as he listed other developments in infrastructure and national development.
Jammeh also told his audience that “nobody is going to develop our country for us. Only we Gambians working together and pulling our efforts can make this country into an economic super power,” and make poverty, destitution and backwardness history.
Despite all the progress made by his government he said, “We are accused of bad governance. But we have seen the difference between The Gambia after more than 400 years under colonialism and 15 years after the July 22 takeover.”
He thanked all “Our true friends who stood with us through thick and thin and continued to be with us and we should all work hard in honesty to make The Gambia a model, and make our children God fearing and patriotic.”
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- The president has the right to talked about 400 years British rule which is still affecting the whole African continent. To make it better tomorrow you have to think about yesterday. It was a hearth felt speech and lets us not foget our history. BJ
(Posted on February 26, 2010, 12:36 AM bob J)
- Why is Janneh imposing his racist views on the Gambian people, How much longer can he lay blame on the lack of opportunity in Gambia on what happened 45 years ago, he should spend some of his vast fortune here
(Posted on February 23, 2010, 2:14 PM nabi)
- Thanks for reminding me, Big Man. We must be a super power. We must be a super power. We must be a super power. We must be a super power. We must be a super power. We must be a super power. We must be a super power. We must be a super power. We must
(Posted on February 23, 2010, 1:23 AM Lamin Jallow)
- Mr jammeh The Gambia Is now 45 years of independence. keep talking about 400 years of british colonialism must be mater of past and rabbis what we have to talk now is what and how to do after 45 years of independence.the past is past look next please
(Posted on February 22, 2010, 1:48 AM A.A.SAMBOU)
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