The Secretary of State for Youth, Sport and Religious Affairs, Sheikh Omar Faye, has urged the people of Old Yundum to put aside their differences and forge ahead in unity as one family.

Hon. Faye raised this concern on Saturday whilst speaking at a meeting of reconciliation held at Old Yundum in Kombo North.

A bitter dispute surrounding the proposed building of the new market and the relocation of the football field among others had taken root among various committees in Old Yundum.

That precipitated the intervention of Hon. Faye and other senior state officials to summon a meeting to bring together, in harmony, the belligerent parties in the dispute: the village sports committee, the village development committee and the leadership of the village.

Secy Faye urged the leaders of the village to encourage the youth to show greater respect to their elders, adding that tribalism does not yield good fruit.

“What happened has passed; we should now forge ahead with plans to develop the country in general and Old Yundum in particular, to the admiration of all,” Secy Faye advised.

He also invited the youth of the village to meet with him in his office to dilate on ways of uplifting their status to enable them to contribute positively to the socio-economic development of the country.

For his part, the Inspector General of Police, Musa Mboob, expressed delight at the turnout to the meeting, saying that peace is something invaluable that The Gambia has been enjoying.

“There is instability almost everywhere in the sub-region except The Gambia,” the Police boss said.” It is through peace that we can develop, as we are blessed with a president who nurtures peace and stability.”

He added that all that the police want is peace, especially among community members, to maintain the stability and the exponential socio-economic growth of the country.

In his remarks, Mr Abdou Badjie, Governor of Western Region, called on the youth to nurture peace and pleaded with the elders to stay united, “as the president is always interested in the peaceful co-existence of all Gambians”.

The occasion was graced, among others, by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Youth, Sport and Religious Affairs, Ebou Joof; the Chief of Kombo North, Demba Sanyang, and the Chairman of the Brikama Area Council, Ousman Gaye.

Mambanick Njie of the Department of State for Youth, Sport and Religious Affairs moderated the meeting.