Editorial,

More often than not, when our politicians speak, they talk of values like patriotism, commitment, hard work, and so on as fundamental to triumph for any aspiring nation. Indeed, these are not mere words of fantasy. They are echoed for a purpose, and the ultimate aim is national development.

It is therefore important for us, the citizenry, to understand the objectives of these words and conduct ourselves well to attain them. The state belongs to no individual or group. It is a product of collective effort and hence a common property. Being patriotic to the nation simply means being patriotic to oneself.

This is the angle from which President Jammeh has been speaking. Addressing the 5th UTG batch of graduands, over the weekend, he advised them to help put a stop to the brain drain syndrome and sacrifice for the country, because even if they go in search of ‘greener pasture’, and earn slightly higher than they would at home, they will certainly do so at the expense of their dignity. They will be made to work twice as much as the citizens of those countries, yet they will receive far less than them.

This is probably one of the most meaningful of statements a head of state can give to his citizens. It takes love for oneself and nationhood to be a patriot. Gambians must therefore exercise the highest sense of patriotism before we can explore any chance to make our Silicon Valley dream materialize.

It is time that we became active participants in shaping our destiny so that we can have command over what belongs to us and exploit it for our own progress.