The Taiwanese Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E. Dr Patrick Chang, donated recently vessel spare parts to the Gambia Navy, as part of their continued support to The Gambia.
The spare parts are meant for two Navy patrol ships, namely Sulaman Junkung and Fatima One.
The items were presented at the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) at the Army Headquarters in Banjul.
Presenting the items to the CDS, Ambassador Chang said it was important to control the country’s territorial waters. “I do hope that we would provide more facilities for this purpose,” he added.
He said the items were donated by the Nova Marine Company, the company that manufactures patrol boats in Taiwan.
The spare parts, according to the Taiwanese diplomat, worth US$50,000.
“We are very pleased to have donated these boats in 1999,” he said, adding that his government also made a similar donation to the Navy in 2005.
Dr Chang observed that security is a major pillar to sustaining national development, and used the occasion to call on Gambian youth to make more contribution towards national development.
Reacting to the gesture, Col. Lang Tombong Tamba, the CDS, thanked Ambassador Chang for his country’s continued support to the Gambia Armed Forces (GFA).
“Developments without security would go in vein,” he said, noting that the Gambia Navy has a mandate to protect the country.
“This gesture would further enhance the capacity of the Navy in their patrol on the country’s territorial waters,” he said.
He also used the occasion to thank H.E. President Yahya Jammeh the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for the interest he attaches to defense and security.
He advised the Navy to take good care of the boats with regular maintenance.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy CDS, Lt Col. Peter Singhateh, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Col. Masannneh Kinteh, and Chief of National Guard Staff, Lt Col. Biran Saine.
Captain Sillah Kujabi represented the Naval Staff Chief, and the PRO of GAF and Military Assistant to the CDS, Alhaji Sanneh, chaired the ceremony.