President Jammeh has told a meeting of thousands of people that the Dialogue with the people’s tour he has just commenced is absolutely not for politics but to listen to their needs; the flood affected areas of the farms; as well as to get first-hand information on the level of farming in the country.

NBRSpeaking at a highly-attended meeting in Farafenni, North Bank Region, on day one of his nationwide tour, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh Babili Mansa said: “We all prayed for good rains and Allah provided it for us. So I am here to see your harvests.”

The Gambian leader also assured the gathering that his trust and belief in Allah remain strong, as before, saying in his 21 years of leadership, he has transformed the lives of Gambians and the country’s development face.

He said Muslims should believe in Allah alone, noting that being a Muslim is not only about praying but also to respect humanity and consider neighbourliness.

In praise of the country’s women he said: “I thank Allah for Gambian women. They have truly filled their positions and responsibilities”. He however appealed to the women, particularly those in the provinces to maintain hard work, saying they will never regret that. “Your husbands are your husbands so continue to work for them,” he advised.

He further told women not to instigate their children against their fathers because children do not forget easily.

Gambia-Senegal relations

At the meeting, President Jammeh also indicated that Gambia and Senegal are one people of two governments. This, he said was caused by colonial masters and that those colonial masters who separated them are the same people now in the European Union.

“It is Allah who brings Gambia and Senegal together,” he stated.

Pa Ousman Jarju, the minister of Environment, Climate Change, Water Resources, Parks and Wildlife, appealed to people to protect the environment, saying from now on government is not going to give permit for tree cutting. “Let us take the forest as our own. Government has given the mandate to the people to take ownership of the forest and protect it,” he said.

According to him, this year alone, his ministry has planted more than 30,000 trees, saying the protection of those trees is primarily the responsibility of the people themselves. “Trees are important so let us plant more instead of cutting them”.

Minister Jarju further reminded the gathering that some four months ago, the use of plastic bags was banned in the country and so government doesn’t what to find anyone guilty of the act.

He explained that plastic bags have serious negative impacts on humans, the soil and animals. He then appealed for people to continue to abide the ban on plastic bags, saying punishments that are attached to guilty ones remain rigid.

The minister of Lands and Regional Government, Momodou Aki Bayo, buttressed the Environment minister’s call for people to protect the environment and the forest, saying Gambians have to stand with President Jammeh to support him in the realisation of his initiatives. “Let us not repeat the same mistakes that we made in the past. Our children and the animals need the forest,” he emphasised.

The APRC national mobiliser, Yankuba Colley, commended the people of Farafenni and the entire NBR for their 21 years of unwavering loyalty to President Jammeh and the APRC party.

The governor of North Bank Region, Lamin Queen Jammeh; and the chief of Upper Badibou, Ebrima Ansu Tamba Jammeh, both commended President Jammeh for his continuous support to Gambians.

The governor also thanked the President for providing huge amount of fertilizer in this year’s farming season, saying his region alone was given 2222 bags. He equally thanked him for reducing the cost of a bag of fertilizer to D750. “This is what a good leader and a good government does for his people,” he said.

Yaya Kantong Sanneh, the Upper Badibou constituency mobiliser and Aja Mai Sey, a women mobilise from Sabach Sanjal both agreed that President Jammeh’s government has changed the entire Gambia; ranging from high class constructed roads, electricity, agriculture and education among others.

The mobiliser of Central Badibou Alhagie Ousman Faal; and Musa Babadinding Ceesay, an APRC supporter all praised President Jammeh for making The Gambia a sample of peace in the whole of Africa.

Faal said it is only in The Gambia where someone can go to the bank and withdraw more than D100, 000 and walk home alone without an escort. “This shows how peaceful the country is.”

Ceesay said Allah has clearly answered to the prayers of Gambian people to have a good leader. “President Jammeh has sympathy that is why he decided to pardon huge number of prisoners this year.”