The head of security and public relations officer at Sun Beach Hotel, Mr Basirou Gassama commonly known as ‘Action Man’, on Saturday organised the members of Sun Beach Tourist Guides to clean the surroundings of Bakau Lower Basic School and the Daily Observer, as a response to President Jammeh’s clarion call on "Operation Clean the Nation". 

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Mr Basirou Gassama said he and his men have been doing this for the past sixteen years. "The places we normally clean are very important places in this society; for example the grave yard, Sun Beach Hotel and the last is where we are today, that is the Bakau Lower Basic School and its perimeter fence," he said.

He appealed to the mayor of KMC, Yankuba Colley, to help in clearing a dumpsite located near the school or to move the dumpsite to another area, to prevent school children from playing at the dumpsite, especially during school hours.

He expressed gratitude to the visionary leader of this nation, Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, for providing the conducive environment for all Gambians.

"Recently, President Jammeh clearly demonstrated his peacefulness again, by inviting political leaders of Guinea Bissau to a peaceful talk ahead of their November elections. And we have also seen him joking and shaking hands with the opposition leaders in The Gambia during that meeting.

What are we waiting for? Politics is over. It is now the time for nation building and we all should do our quota in any form in our communities in order to attain Vision 2020," Mr Gassama remarked. He further went on to appeal to the NEA to assist them with wheelbarrows, rakes and cutlasses.

Mr Gassama finally thanked the management of the Daily Observer Company and Alhagie Jawara, the manager of Sun Beach Hotel for complementing his efforts.

For his part, Mr Kebba Jobe, the headmaster of Bakau Lower Basic School, thanked Mr Gassama and his tour guides for continuously cleaning the school. He described them as true sons of The Gambia and role models.

Speaking at the venue, the assistant chief guide, Mr Alieu ‘Alex’ Darboe, on behalf of the tour guides, commended Mr Basiru Gassama for initiating the cleaning exercise.
"He (Basirou Gassama) has changed our lives by convincing us to stop bumsing the tourists and becoming self-employed tour guides," Mr Darboe remarked.