Gambia: Gambian Tourism Minister, Angela Colley Receives Keys to the City of Miami
Dec 14,2006 00:00
by
editor
The Mayor of the City of Miami in Florida, United States of America, presented the keys to the City of Miami to the Gambian Secretary of State for Tourism, Angela Bernadette Colley, who is currently in the United States at the head of a Tourism Promotion delegation.The ceremony took place at the North Miami Museum at a dinner hosted on behalf of the Secretary of State by North Beach Mayor, Kevin Burns, and the Honorary Consul General of The Gambia in Florida, Rony Desverreness.
Speaking at the ceremony and deputizing for the Mayor, Chief Sandra Rivers said that Miami and The Gambia share a lot in common and the keys are to serve as a symbol of opening the doors of Miami to The Gambia Tourism Authority. She said Gambians living in Miami serve as a testimony for hospitality, respect and integrity-all "values of your little country."
In her remarks, Angela Colley expressed her thanks to Mayors Alvarez and Burns for the warmth and hospitality that was extended to her and the delegation. The Secretary of State also conveyed on behalf of His Excellency the President Alhagi Dr A J J Yahya Jammeh, gratitude and appreciation for an invitation to visit North Miami extended by Mayor Burns.
Secretary Colley added that the President is pleased with the close collaboration between Miami and The Gambia. Speaking on the importance of Miami to The Gambia, Miss Colley said the proximity between Miami and The Gambia is a sufficient premise to cooperation and trade between the two. She added that Miami and The Gambia are a specimen to mankind for the two to continue to show the rest of mankind what diversity and tolerance was all about.
On the importance of her mission to the United States, the Secretary of State said her delegation also wanted to seize the opportunity to engage the African Americans in the Diaspora whom she referred to as "our family." She praised the publication of Alex Haley's award winning docu-drama as an eye opener and a base for spiritual reconnection to the homeland for African Americans. She launched an appeal to African Americans to return home to Africa and help rebuild the continent so as to eliminate the stigma surrounding the continent.
She extended on behalf of President Jammeh, an open invitation to The Gambia to both Mayors Alvarez and Burns. She thanked the Miami Mayor for presenting her with keys to his beautiful city and informed him that the key was for The Gambia to open the doors into the Mecca of Tourism, Miami.
Another speaker was George Gorgi Sock, the President of the Miami Gambian Organization who conveyed on behalf of the Gambian community gratitude to the two cities for the hospitality and warm welcome accorded the delegation. He also praised the approach of the Government of The Gambia, citing, "we are always pleased to be involved when our leaders come to this city." Mr. Sock said this was an indication of working together which according to him is the key recipe to development.
The Dinner was attended by State legislators, tour operators, travel agencies, and local politicians and city administrators.