The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau yesterday held a one-day joint ministerial meeting. The meeting, coming three years since the two countries last convened one of its kind, was held at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

The focal points of the meeting were the issues of agriculture, trade, customs, transport, social security, justice, amongst other development-related issues confronting the two countries.

The Guinea Bissau delegation was led by His Excellency Mr. Martinho N’Dafa Cabi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

In her opening remarks, Her Excellency Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, intimated that The Gambia is second home to the people of Guinea Bissau, noting that the two countries have strong historical, cultural and ethnic relationships that bind them.

“In this regard, all efforts must be geared towards ensuring that unity and unity of purpose are maintained not only at the bilateral but also at the regional and the continental levels,” she stated.

According to Vice President Njie-Saidy, this joint inter ministerial meeting provides the opportunity to bring together policy makers and experts of the two countries to exchange views on development-related issues that challenge them. These, she emphasised, “must be placed at the centre of our respective development and joint cooperation agenda if we are to realize the goals of halving extreme poverty and hunger by target date of 2015, set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”

Veep Njie-Saidy went on to express confidence that with the expertise, commitment and dedication of able officials, progress would be made on how to tackle and resolve issues affecting us with a view to ensuring a better future for the peoples of the two countries, as well as bringing to fruition their development dreams and aspirations in an atmosphere of peace and security.

She added that this Joint Commission should allow for stocktaking on all that the two countries have achieved over the years and follow up on unresolved issues or, where necessary, table new ones that may have cropped up in the interim. She assured those gathered that The Gambia would continue to be a partner and staunch supporter of the Bissau Guinean cause as it strives to rebuild its economy and entrench its democracy.     

Speaking earlier, the Guinea Bissau Prime Minister, Mr. Martinho N’Dafa Cabi, commented that the two countries share cultural and historical ties, noting that it was the colonial masters who divided us. He reassured his country’s readiness to consolidate and give a boost to the cordial relationship it has with The Gambia.

“In order to have peace and stability within the sub-region, countries have to forge very strong links to bring about the desired development,”  he stated.