The APRC Tobokoto supporters led by Yama Njie, youth mobiliser and organiser last saturday embarked on a massive cleansing exercise (set-setal) at the National Assembly ahead of the fourth coming state opening of the legislative year 2008.

The exercise, in which all members of the National Assembly participated actively, follows the giant step taken by the assembly leadership in facelifting the assembly grounds prior to the event.

Speaking during the exercise, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East on behalf of Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay, expressed delight at the exercise and commended Yama Njie and the youths for such a laudable initiative. He reiterated the giant leadership of the assembly and described the exercise as in reponse to the President Yahya Jammeh’s call for a clean environment.

According to him, the exercise is timely as the state opening of the 2008 legislative year is just in the offing and quickly anticipated for a very succesful state opening. “This will be the time when the leadership of this country will table the last years activities and plans for the year in which we are. Bills and motions will as well be table for ratification and enactment. For such, we are expecting all kinds of people. So the cleanliness of the environment is vital” he said.

He on behalf of the speaker thanked the youths under Yama Njie for the move and advised them to stick to such endeavors to compliment government efforts in ensuring a healthy nation.

Samba Faal, Mayor of Banjul, equally commended Yama Njie and the youths for the move. He assured them of the council’s continued technical support to such endeavors as it is in response to President Jammeh’s call for a healthy nation.

Honorable Haddy Nyang-Jagne, NAM for Jeshwang noted that the exercise is vital as the assembly leadership is expecting some of her colleague speakers from the sub-region to attend the state opening of the 2008 legislative year. “So to clean the grounds of the assembly will be another plus in our programme.

We are very impressed with the move by the youths and we hope that others will emulate” she said.

Yankuba Colley, Mayor of KMC, described the exercise as very important and shows the commitment of the youths in complimenting government efforts in ensuring a healthy nation. He added that when the request for the assistance came to his office on the activity, they responded positively by assisting in giving a tractor and other vehicle to collect the rubbish.

“We quickly responded because it is in line with President Jammeh’s call and more specially because of the good leadership of the National Assembly” he said.

For her part, Yama Njie who initiated the exercise, commended President Yahya Jammeh for the leadership qualities.

She observed the unprecedented developments The Gambia registered under President Jammeh’s leadership and called on every citizen to support President Jammeh. “We are here to clean the environment ahead of the state opening. The President is coming and for the fact that he is doing everything he can to transform the country more especially treating various diseases in free of charge, we definetely cannot pay him back. So this is the only way we can do and we will continue to support him” she said.
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To the Speaker, Yama Njie saluted her for the leadership qualities recognised by even the opposition National Assembly members. “Because of that, and the love the speaker has in me, I decided to organise the exercise to compliment her efforts in the facelift of the assembly ahead of the state opening of the parliament” she said.

She thanked the KMC, BCC and Dr Mariatou Jallow of the RVTH for the support in ensuring the success of the exercise.

Other speakers included Honorable Abdoulie Saine, NAM for Banjul Central, Honorable Baboucarr Nyang, NAM for Banjul South and Mustapha Jallow, senior programme officer, National Environment Agency.