In a bid to promote public awareness on issues relating to environment, the National Environment Agency (NEA) yesterday formally launched its website at Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

Resolutely decided to put environmental concerns at the centre stage of the development process, NEA is taking this move with a view to not only sensitise the public, but to provide a wide-ranging educational tool to the populations.

Delivering his keynote address on the launch of NEA’s website, Hon. Edward Singhatey, Secretary of State for Forestry and Environment defined the event as ‘‘the achievement of yet another objective in the management of our environment.’’ He also seized the opportunity to recall that ‘‘the government of The Gambia has placed a great deal of efforts to address the environmental concerns,’’ noting that ‘‘these commitments have been clearly articulated in The Gambia Environmental Action Plan (GEAP).’’

According to him, the basic function of this information technology tool is to provide a source of information to the public, as it is another channel that will help to disseminate information. ‘‘The website will further help to infuse an environment-friendly culture in the population, including our children, who will become our future decision makers. This website will reach people at the individual level. It will definitely sensitise people on the importance of the environment and related issues’’, he indicated.

Speaking earlier, Momodou B. Sarr, Executive Director of the NEA, noted that the ‘‘event marks another important milestone in the history of environmental management’’ in The Gambia.

Elaborating on the importance of the website he said, ‘‘Its potential to spread information is truly beyond belief, but unfortunately this great potential is not fully harnessed in Africa. We Africans should not allow ourselves to be left behind in this information superhighway,’’ he hinted.

He went on to say that ‘this website will immensely contribute towards making the NEA more efficient in delivering its service to the public’’, as all the necessary information’s will pass through this website. Certainly, in getting into the cyberspace, NEA will have the possibility to offer endless amount of information to the public.

One can get access to the website by clicking on:
www.nea.gm