President urges unity of purpose for a prosperous nation

President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh has called for a unity of purpose to build a new Gambia, saying that this vision is his government’s guiding principle and a source of inspiration.

The president was addressing the nation yesterday at the July 22nd Square, Banjul, where the country’s 43rd years of nationhood was celebrated in a grand style.

Present at the independence celebration were President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa of Zambia and President Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires of Cape Verde. The Vice-President Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, the speaker of the National Assembly, secretaries of state, members of the National Assembly, and members of the diplomatic and consular corps, were among dignitaries at the spectacular celebration.

Elegant and smartly dressed officers and personnel of the national security apparatuses, alongside students and members of civil society organisations matched pass at the historical square, where the president saluted them for demonstrating a sense of nationalism and patriotism to the cause of the country.

The anniversary celebration was puntuated with a touching but rejoicing dimension, as the crowd watched a number of treated HIV/AIDS patients matched pass the president who has successfully restored their health and gave them hope to believe again. Cultural troupes, among various segment of Gambian society took part.

The day was seen by commentators as a reminder to the painful political struggle The Gambia had to go through to rescue The Gambia from the brutal claws of colonialism, which left the country stagnated in development. The victory for a total self-determination came to being in 1965, when the independence was won from the colonialist British.

The emergence of the second republic, the commentators went on, ushered in numerous developments strecting across various national development sectors.

In his historic speech, President Jammeh dissected the meaning of independence, reminded and spurred the citizenry about their role to build a new Gambia, among several other pertinent issues.

The president called on Gambians to put aside their political or ideological differences for national development purposes as the moment calls for all to come together as one people and family, to make The Gambia a great nation.

Below we reproduce the full speech of President Jammeh:

Your Excellencies, our Distinguished Guest of Honour, Presidents of the Republics of Zambia and Cape Verde,

Your Excellency, the Vice President of the Republic,

My Lord Chief Justice,

Speaker National Assembly

Honouable Members of the National Assembly

Excellencies, Member of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps

Venerable Religious Leaders

Civil Society Organisations, Cultural Groups, and all other Associations

Party Militants and Supporters

Teachers, School Children, Students and Parents

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure once again to welcome you all to this august gathering to mark the 43rd Independence Anniversary of our beloved nation, The Gambia.

We feel immensely honoured that on this happy day we have been granted the privilege to host the distinguished Presidents from the Sister Republics of Cape Verde, and Zambia, who I wish to profoundly thank for accepting our invitation to join us in our celebrations. Welcome to all of you. Your presence in our midst on such a joyous Day, Dear Excellencies, is indeed very highly appreciated.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Fellow Gambians

Today is a significant day in the annals of the history of our dear Motherland. 43 years ago, we gained political independence.

What this simply meant is that we have won a moment for ourselves to direct and take charge of our own affairs, without looking beyond our immediate means to promote and achieve sustained economic growth and development for the benefit of all Gambians.

The significance of this historic day dawns on us in various ways and several perspectives. Key among these are the opportunities it accords us to look over our shoulders critically and objectively with a view to a assessing our achievements and shortcomings, renewing our commitment to the nation and ourselves, revitalizing our resolve as well as reviewing our obligations, duties and development agenda.

Importantly, the true meaning of ‘independence’ and ‘nationhood’ can be wholesomely appreciated only when we can cogently and aptly tie these to our dignity and relevance on the global stage as a people.

Within this framework, political independence - with all its ramifications - cannot be divorced from the scale, scope, depth and level of development it generates and the value it adds to the life of each individual that is directly affected by it.

Thus, collectively, we should be asking ourselves such questions as: How has our political independence affected us? What contributions have we made in this direction, or how much have we impeded or undermined the progress of our people?

How have we managed our affairs and the affairs of those within our sphere of influence? By extension, we should passionately ponder over how our stately affairs have been directed and managed, and to what extent we have positively influenced our destiny as a people? Once we attempt to answer these questions with sincerity and honesty, we would be able to determine the actions and tasks we ought to undertake or reinforce in the years ahead and, also, what attitudes and behaviours we need to modify or strengthen.

I am certain that if stock is taken of government interventions in all key areas that have a baring on the development of our beloved nation, acknowledgement will be made, even by our antagonists, of the giant strides and remarkable achievements we have made in recent years.

I am equally confident that all well-meaning Gambians, and non-Gambians alike, who are familiar withe events in The Gambia, will attest to the fact that, over the past fourteen years that my government has been at helm of affairs, this country has seen unprecedented development.

The colossal investments into infrastructural development; the huge expansion of social sciences countrywide, particularly in the areas of education, health and agriculture; the institutional development registered within both the public and private sectors; the opportunities created, especially for the youth, girls and women, are too conspicuous to refute and stand testimony to my Administrations genuine determination to transform this country into an economic and social super power in which all Gambians and non Gambians alike would live with pride, dignity, peace and social justice. This calls for patriotism.

However, my ambition and notion of patriotism transcend reminiscing in past achievements. My view is that true patriotism should be measured not only by what we have done already, but also by what more we can do and intend to do.

This notion is grounded in the conviction that genuine commitment and love for one’s people cannot be momentary but spontaneous and never-ending. My government and all those who rally behind us have taken this position because our development agenda is tied to an overall goal, a common vision and unity of purpose.

For us, the subscription to the drive for ‘development with a vision for the creation of a great nation’ is our guiding principle and source of inspiration. What type of development do I allude to here?

Fellow Gambians

Development is for humankind. It revolves around people, and is measured through them and their environment. Development is, therefore, a qualitative outcome that disrupts cycles, trends or pattern of unfavourable social, economic and political conditions.

Thus, it precipitates an historical transformation of a people’s state of being for the better.

These are the underlying factors of our vision for development in The Gambia

Like other people, Africans, and Gambians for that matter, are endowed with enormous potential to change their circumstances and be counted among dignified peoples and nations. The implication of this realization is that we can grow out of backwardness only if we choose to do so. Indeed, together we can rise to become a great nation and great continent.

As history teaches us, greatness cannot be borrowed or imported. People do great things that make them great, and nations do things that lead them to greatness. Greatness is, therefore, an offshoot of factors that devoted citizens influence, alter or transform. Hence, no nation can become great if its citizens are indolent, indifferent, divided and destructive.

Fellow Gambians

The celebration of each anniversary of our national day is unique for one reason or the other. What makes this year’s celebration distinct is that it heralds the beginning of another five year-term for my government. As we have now gotten over both the presidential and local government elections, it is imperative that we disregard our political or ideological differences for national development purposes.

The moment calls for us all to come together as one people and one family, resolved to make The Gambia a great nation. The opportunities to attain this exist, but this can only come about if we identify with the country and its heritage and values, carve out a common destiny, cling onto a shared ideology and vision and link our development efforts to that vision and ideology.

The fundamental elements that should characterize our actions need to be embedded in the regard for ethical values, whether we consider ourselves leaders or servants of the people, professionals or artisans.

It is necessary that we establish codes of conduct or regulatory frameworks and cultivate a keen sense of discipline to define our attitude to work and our relationships.

Developing a nation and leading it into greatness demands productivity. No nation can optimally develop to overcome its weaknesses without productive citizens.

In this respect, I urged all of us to strive to be productive and qualitatively, especially those in the social sectors.

Of crucial importance in this regard are the agriculture and industrial sectors. My government will continue to encourage and support agricultural enterprises through mechanized farming methods and other means.

It is evident that traditional farming methods will not transform our society nor salvage us from dependency on foreign goods. To bolster the economy, which is becoming healthier and stronger, and to raise the national per capita income, we must depend less on imports and exploit all that resides within us and within the environment. Crucially, let us exploit all the advantages that science and technology offers.

Fellow Gambians

At this juncture, I acknowledge and commend all the gallant patriots that have studiously and selflessly striven to contribute meaningfully and positively towards the development of the nation.

As a special tribute I salute the women of The Gambia for contributing to national development. Women and youths of The Gambia thank you very much.

Every year, as we poise ourselves to celebrate our national day, many dedicated persons, individually and through various committees, do their utmost to ensue that we have successful celebrations.

I thank and commend all such individuals and committees, in addition to the armed and security forces, voluntary organizations, cultural groups, the school children and their teachers and parents and the general public for all that you go through to make this day joyous and memorable.

In particular, I hope the attention given to the school children and students will make them realize how much is being invested in them and how highly they are looked upon to fly the Gambian flag higher.

I am convinced also that those who are indisposed and, therefore, cannot join us, would have participated actively if it were not for their situation. Thus, as we celebrate, we must compassionately remember them too.

Fellow Gambians We are in the process of creating a new Gambia; a country where each and everyone of us will be held accountable and responsible for our actions, and a country where services, justice and all the hallmarks and principles of justice, equality and honest governance will permeate every section of society.

Some call it good governance. But what we look for it in The Gambia is also honest government. We have the momentum and must maintain it. I invite every friend of The Gambia to join us in this endeavour. In the interim, I thank all of our true friends who have stood by our side through thick and thin.

On this final note, let me thank all of you for being here, and I pray that the Almighty Allah continues to guide, protect, bless and shower His favours on us and our dear motherland.

Ithank you for your kind attention. Alsamadeh.