Two hundred and fifty Gambians on Tuesday 20th November left the Banjul International Airport to perform the annual pilgrimage at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The flight was the first this year organized by the Gambia International Airlines, GIA. The Secretary of State for Religious Affairs Ismaila Sambou was among the many people who were at the airport to see off the pilgrims. Shortly before embarking for the flight Mr. Sambou addressed the pilgrims urging them to respect the laws of the kingdom and to abide by the rules and regulations of the Hajj. It is the first time in about a decade that the pilgrimage is been organized without apparent hassles and that the first flight takes off according to schedule. The president of the Supreme Islamic Council, Alhaji Banding Drammeh took note of this in his speech and praised government for its efforts. A member of the Hajj Organizing Committee Mrs. Ramtoulie Savage also thanked the authorities for their cooperation. Subsequent flights are expected to take off in the next week or so. Cost of the pilgrim package has been considered too high and has been the subject of much conversation among the general public. A notable thing this year is the absence of scores of APRC supporters that President Jammeh sponsor to perform the Hajj every year in the past six years.