In what many observers have considered laughable, the government of The Gambia, will provide medical assistance in the area of herbal medicine to Venezuela. This, according to the Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research, Crispin Grey Johnson.

According to Mr. Johnson who tabled the motion at an extra-ordinary session of the National Assembly last Thursday, 12th   April, the assistance was in line with a Framework of  Agreement for cooperation signed between the two countries last year. He disclosed that The Gambia was prepared to offer the Venezuelan republic 1000 dozens of herbal medicine every two months for the treatment of asthma. He noted that this is a further testimony of the goodwill of both the people of The Gambia and the Bolivian republic of Venezuela to develop and grow together. He added that the initiative is aimed at further strengthening the relations in the area of health, agriculture, education, petroleum and infrastructure as indicated in the framework agreement itself.

Mr. Johnson stated that President Hugo Chavez’s acceptance of The Gambia’s controversial invitation to attend and address the African Union Summit of heads of states and governments held in Banjul last year had clearly demonstrated that the Bolivian republic of Venezuela has had keen interest in taking the level of friendship and cooperation between the Gambia and Venezuela to a higher height. He revealed that since July last year, the Gambian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has undertaken several trips to Venezuela to prepare the ground for meaningful achievements to be realized under the auspices of the framework agreement. None of the National Assembly members cared to ask where that volume of herbs could be harvested in The Gambia. President Jammeh has been cultivating vast areas of his farms to cultivate herbs and some observers wonder if the consignments are not to be bought from the presidential orchards.