Intending Pilgrims Urged to Prepare Early

As the countdown to the 2006-07 pilgrimage to the Muslim Holy land of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gradually reduce to days, the Visa team are expected to arrive in the country by 23rd November 2006, the Chairman of the 2006-2007 Hajj Commission, Alhagie Kebba Landing Sanyang, unveiled recently.

Speaking during GRTS TV panel on the 2006-07 Hajj to Mecca, Alhagie Kebba Landing Sanyang said that all necessary preparations and arrangements have been done for the processing and transactions to lift prospective pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

According to Chairman Sanyang, the Commission has been able to maintain the total of 1900 pilgrims for the coming Hajj but has nonetheless entreated the Saudi Arabian authorities to consider an further extension of the figure to at most 2100. “The visas to the Kingdom of Saudi will arrive in the country on the 23rd of November, 2006, while the first, second, third and fourth flights will take off from the Banjul International Airport on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th of December 2006 respectively,” he said.

The Hajj Commission Chairman further confirmed that the Gambia International Airlines (GIA), Banjul Travels Agency and Continental Travels are the appointed 2006-07 hajj operators/agents.

He said that among the salient points the Saudi Arabian authorities have laid down are the pilgrims’ health status, adding that pilgrims necessarily need to be financially well off before setting off for the trip to Mecca, in order to forestall unnecessary difficulties in exercising their religious obligations. “We have done all the necessary arrangements with the health and the immigration officials for the required medical check-ups and vaccinations, and passport arrangements as well as other logistics,” Mr Sanyang said.

He therefore called on all intending pilgrims to speed up arrangements to make bookings with the said travel agencies so as to avoid unnecessary delays.

He said interested pilgrims could acquire further information, including the travel costs, arrangements and other requirements from the travel agencies.

Alh. Yankuba Ceesay of the Department of State for Sports and Religious Affairs, for his part, said all is set for this year’s pilgrimage, while assuring Muslims of a hitch-free trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this year. He reiterated the importance of good health condition for intending pilgrims, as well as sufficient funds to ensure their comfort during the Hajj.